Psalms 55 * 138, 139:1-17(18-23); Joshua 23:1-16; Romans 15:25-33; Matthew 27:11-23I find it hard to think of anything to say after such a strong passage from Matthew. Jesus stands mute. Pilate doesn't want to sentence him and tries to find a way out, but falls into his own trap. The crowd is whipped into a frenzy by priests and the elders who are scattered among the crowd. And Jesus stands quiet and alone. Except for three words, You say so, we don't hear anything from Jesus.
In the face of the wrath of the crowd and the hatred of the religious leaders combined with his abandonment by his disciples, Jesus stands quiet and alone. Or seems to be. For even though he must have had numerous different human emotions raging through him at that moment (fear, anger, disappointment, sadness), he also knew something. He knew who he was, whose son he was. At 33 years old, he had three years of ministry under his belt. He knew what he had accomplished, and he had to have known, even though he was about to suffer and be hurt greatly, he must have known what was to come after the suffering. He must have known he was walking into the loving embrace of God. Perhaps that is what made his being quiet and alone more bearable for him.
When we are alone and feeling bereft, remembering that, in truth, we are not alone, that God is with us, God's love envelopes us, can help to alleviate those very difficult feelings and to move on in life.
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Copyright 2008, John F. Dwyer. All Rights Reserved.
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