Holy Week wasn’t easy for our saviour, as he faced betrayal, rejection, humiliation, mockery, bodily harm and mental torture like I cannot begin to imagine at the hands of those he had called to walk with him (Judas), those he had drawn into his inner circle and given a place of honour ( Simon Peter), those who should have stood up for him (religious leaders) and those who had to protect his rights (Pilate). I’m sure some of us, most of us, all of us can relate to how Jesus felt on one level or another but this series is about us looking into ourselves and identifying moment that we have made our Savior and those around us feel this exact way- either passively or actively. Difficult though it might be, let us continue because unless we know where we stand we cannot begin to move in the right direction
- The bystanders
With so much injustice in the world sometimes I wonder where the Church is, just as the disciples of Jesus wondered where all the people Jesus had spent the last three years serving were as they watched their Master drag his cross through the streets of Jerusalem on his way to be crucified. Many watched what they knew to be a great injustice from the sidelines, while others literally stood by and watched the drama unfold, unmoved because it was “none of their business”. Others took a moment to shake to their heads and comment on the injustice in their secret place, “ hoping and praying” that thing that Jesus wouldn’t “suffer too much” and the rest just went about their business, too busy to watch and too occupied to comment. Where do you fall on this spectrum when it comes to the suffering of today’s world? Before we even talk about the suffering of the world at large look closer home, open your eyes and see those suffering right under your nose. The workmate being unfairly treated or unjustly accused, the hungry child you drive past every morning on your way to work, the lady from your church (who just happens to be the same size as you) who could use a new dress and a pair of shoes or two while your closet won’t close- full of clothes you don’t wear anymore, and that lonely girl in your youth group everyone thinks is “weird”. While we might not be able to end the suffering of EVERYONE under the sun, are we at least trying to bring some sort of comfort to those around us or are we just bystanders?
2. The soldiers
Greetings to those who inflict pain and suffering upon others……especially in the name of duty. I’ve often heard it said that such people and their leaders will have a “special place in hell”, well I don’t know about that. What I do know is that there’s never an excuse to be the cause of someone’s pain. Social media is full of these “trolls”, people who take it upon themselves to be the thorn in the flesh of other people. Christians who take it upon themselves to humiliate both Christians and non-Christians under the guise of showing “tough love”. I’m not saying that those wrong should be corrected but is humiliation necessary? Did God humiliate you to win you over? If he did would you still want to follow him? While I do understand that the soldiers had to follow orders I don’t believe Pilate instructed them to be particularly cruel or to enjoy it the way they did, I do believe that even in administering a necessary blow mercy always has a place. Despite the depth of the wounds that Jesus had received and the excruciating pain of the thorn cross upon his head they saw it fit to force a barely alive Jesus to carry his cross and mocked him the whole way there, all this knowing that whatever Jesus’ crimes they didn’t warrant death, to begin with.
3. The Mockers
Of course, wherever there is suffering there are those who enjoy the show, some people are just sadistic at heart, others were those who have always been jealous of the one suffering and then there’s the righteous “I told you so crowd.” Each group making it a point to add salt to the wound in words and action. The sadistic laughing and enjoying the show, simply because somehow the suffering of another, of anyone who isn’t themselves. The jealous enjoy the show because they’ve been secretly hoping and praying that such and such will eventually “get what they deserve” and the moment has come, the one who, for whatever reason either made them feel less than or was outdoing them in some area or another, is being reduced to their level or better yet below them. Finally, proof that they’re not all that is here and boy am I going to enjoy the show. Then of course any society, church especially, wouldn’t be itself if the righteous didn’t hit us with their “I told you so” anthem. Oh, how the prophets of doom love to remind us of how right they were when things go wrong- they take delight in their ability to have seen this coming and it usually comes with a “you deserve what you get” attitude and lecture. This special group offers no consolidation nor comfort nor advice on how to lessen the blow, no they just watch and gloat, basking in the glory of their own righteousness because they’re too wise for that to ever be them. May God fill us with compassion for the suffering whether they deserve it or not because love does not delight in the suffering of others- no matter the excuse.
Of a Woman 