LENT 2016 – GOING TO JERUSALEM

Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, March 24

The Crucifixion of Jesus:  Matthew 27: 32 – 44

            Did some of you watch the TV show, The Passion, last Sunday night? It was a live presentation with music recounting the events of Jesus' last days. There was a huge procession with some people carrying a gigantic, neon cross, parading through the streets of New Orleans. They processed towards an area where there was a large stage, choirs, a Jumbo Tron screen, and a narrator. There was also an immense crowd waiting for the cross’s arrival.

            It was a modernized but very effective re-telling. The actors were in street clothes like jeans and t-shirts. Prisoners wore orange jumpsuits like they might wear in today’s jails. Jesus was arrested by policemen in SWAT gear.  He was transported in a police paddy-wagon.

The music was very eclectic; as mixture of secular and spiritual songs. For example, Jesus’ mother, Mary, sang When You Walk through A Storm.

On the whole, it was well done and worth the watch. But some interesting incongruities (the neon cross aside) during the broadcast has set me to thinking.

One was that the show was constantly interrupted with commercials, The Crucifixion – brought to you by snack foods, expensive cars, deodorants, and even a product for a bladder infection and so on.            

But I suppose, when you think about it, the merchants of Jerusalem did not likely close up their shops on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, either.  Afterall, the city was packed with tourists, people there for the Passover. What a golden opportunity for their version of a Black Friday! There would have been the regular selling and buying, even as the nails were being hammered into his body. The irony is intriguing, at least. The Man who was sold for a few pieces of silver, a ransom for the many, whose bloody clothes were gambled for, dying while the world of commerce grinds on.

Secondly, I found interesting the various reactions of the people in the crowds. It seemed obvious that the vast majority of the people, both in the procession and in the audience at the main venue, were Christians. Although there were many who had tears in their eyes, or were looking on with deep emotion about the events being portrayed, there was also one heck of a lot of cheering and applause. Part of it, of course, was for the performances of the actors and singers. But, it seemed to me that a lot of it was out of exuberance and excitement and even pleasure in the participation in this otherwise sobering event. It almost seemed that they were cheering Jesus on to his death, once again. If Jesus had been surrounded by such a throng of eager supporters, he may never have made it to Golgotha.

It makes me reflect about the reaction of the crowds on that Hard Friday. Simon of Cyrene is jerked from the sidelines and forced to carry Jesus’ cross. There are jeers, taunts, catcalls, and name calling. If anyone was applauding and cheering, it was the religious leaders who were finally getting rid of their problem. Crowds always love a spectacle, good or bad.

Perhaps, we, the Church, have gone too far in ripping the crucifixion of Jesus out of the real world, and making it into primarily and only a respectful, holy, church event. A number of years ago, the lead pastor of one of the large mega-churches in the United States was asked why there was no cross in the church’s auditorium. He replied that he didn’t want to scare away any newcomers with such a negative symbol. I guess he was saying that the Cross is for more mature Christians only.

Give me FOX network’s odd rendering of the Crucifixion. It is, at least, even if unintentionally, honest about the context of Jesus’ sacrifice. The meaning and purpose of this Death belongs out there in the real, confusing, incongruous, maddening world.

I might wish that I could change the channel, but I can’t!