Isaiah 52.13-53.12 ‘He was pierced for our transgressions.’
Hebrews 4.14-16; 5.7-9 ‘He learned obedience and became the source of salvation to all who
obey him.’
John 18.1-9.42 The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
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In St John’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus just five people stood
by him.
His aunt was there. Mary, the wife of Clopas was there (which rather
begs the question, ‘where was Clopas?’). Mary Magdalene was there. His bosom
friend, the Beloved Disciple was there. Most poignantly of all perhaps, the
woman who brought him to birth, his Blessed Mother, was there.
They were there. And of course the duty execution team of Roman soldiers
was there.
Where was Peter? Where were the other members of the inner circle of the
Twelve? Where were the crowds who followed him through the Galilee, being fed,
healed, taught, reconciled? Where were the crowds who greeted him just days
before at his triumphal entry into the Holy City, throwing down their cloaks,
waving their palm branches?
They were nowhere to be seen.
The Passion Gospel of John asks the question of each of us, where are
you, where am I, in relation to the Crucified?
Thanks be to God we are here this afternoon. We come to associate
ourselves with Jesus Christ the Crucified One. We stand with him and we come to
kneel to reverence and venerate the cross afresh.
We come to the foot of the Cross to stand with countless witnesses to
the Way of Jesus throughout the ages: with the nameless, like his mother’s
sister; with those who feel solitary in their faith, like Mary the wife of
Clopas; we stand with Mary Magdalene, who had sinned much but knew much greater
forgiveness; we stand with the Beloved Disciple full of love and faith; we
stand with Mary who said ‘yes’ to the call to bring Jesus to birth in the world
and heard Simeon’s words that a sword would pierce her soul: now she was at
that moment.
‘Where do you stand on such and such?’ It’s a question that is asking
someone to justify a position, a stance, perhaps an intellectual argument or
political opinion.
Our response when asked ‘where do you stand on Jesus Christ?’ does not
need to be answered with words, however cogent, rational or well-argued; but
rather, we stand patiently at the foot of the cross.
Where do I stand? I stand at the foot of the cross with Mary’s sister,
Mary Magdalene, Mary, the wife of Clopas, the Beloved Disciple, Mary, the
Mother of Our Lord and God. I stand there with saints and martyrs, with
countless faithful men, women and children throughout the ages and today.
I stand there; you stand there, because in baptism we receive the sign
of the cross, and are told as bearers of this sign, ‘Fight valiantly as a
disciple of Christ, against sin, the world and the devil, and remain faithful
to Christ to the end of your life’ (Common
Worship: Initiation Services).
It is the way of fidelity to Jesus Christ, through communion in his
sacrifice, in and his Body and Blood, standing with him, kneeling before him,
worshipping and adoring him that we become the people we were created to be: at
one with God; at one with the creation; at one with one another; at one with
ourselves.
We
adore you O Christ and we bless you,
because
by your Holy Cross,
you
have redeemed the world.
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