St. Nicolai Notes

EXCHANGES ON THE WAY: LENTEN PRAYERS
Day 38: 7th Thursday
Mark 15:16-32

     What a bitter and ironic coronation the soldiers gave You, Jesus: the purple robe, the crown of pain, the words of acclamation coupled with striking and spitting and false worship. At times our worship may be no less of an exaggerated act, no less ironic, and cover no less violence to the "least" with whom You identify so closely that injustice and abuse of them is violence toward You.
     Jesus, You knew the road You were taking. You knew that the way You walked and called your disciples to walk was one that included suffering and death. You knew that in order for your mission to be accomplished, You must be "lifted up."*
     And so You were. Stripped naked you were nailed to a cross You were too weak from abuse to carry. You were lifted up, in public, where all who passed by might mock and abuse You and celebrate the shame that your family and friends shared with You.
     Jesus, there is little likelihood that many of us would have acted in better ways than the politicians, priests, soldiers and passersby who brought You so much pain and grief. At the foot of the cross, most of us would have little idea about what we were doing,^ and no understanding of the result of our rejection and abuse. At the foot of the cross, we would hardly know what God had "laid upon You."#


* John 3:14
^ Luke 23:34
# Isaiah 53:6