by Father Jerome Leckband
In Nomine + Jesu.
Behold, your servants: the chief priests and the scribes, Pontius Pilate and his soldiers, and all those who cried out “Crucify Him”. They do your work. Though you did not nail Jesus to the tree of the cross, you were by nature an enemy of God. Jesus suffered and died because of your sin.
But you are not solely to be blamed. No one takes Jesus’ life from Him by their brute force. You did not force Jesus by your very will.
Jesus says, “My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
No one forced Jesus to the cross. “I lay my life down of Myself,” Jesus says. “I have power to lay it down.” This is how Jesus’ power is shown; He makes His enemies His servants.
The chief priests and the scribes, Pontius Pilate and his soldiers, and all those who cried out “Crucify Him” – they served you, and they served God. Through them God’s will was done.
These servants crucified Jesus from a wicked will.
God used these servants to crucify His beloved Son out of His loving will.
God is the One who formed your inward parts and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. Out of love for you, the Father sends Jesus to be your servant in order to redeem you.
Following Christ’s resurrection, on the Day of Pentecost, Peter terrified the Jews when he told them, “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart.
To look upon Jesus on the cross and to know what He is doing there should cut you to the heart. When you view the nails piercing through Jesus’ hands, believe that those are you sinful works that inflict Him. Behold his crown of thorns, and believe that those thorns are your wicked thoughts. He was stricken, and smitten by God, and afflicted. He was wounded for your transgressions. He was bruised for your iniquities. The chastisement for your peace was upon Him.
Sons and daughters of God, don’t weep for Jesus. He had the power to take His life up again. Weep for yourselves, for your sin, and weep for your children who have inherited the original sin passed down through you.
Look upon Christ and hear how He speaks from His throne calmly and confidently, “It is finished. And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
He bows His head in the sleep of death, but there is more that comes from Him. “One of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”
St. Augustine recalls for us how God drew life from the side of the first Adam. When God put Adam to sleep, He obtained a rib from Adam’s side. From that rib, He formed the first woman. She was called the mother of all living.
Jesus is the second Adam. On the cross He bowed His head in the sleep of death. From this sleeper’s side came blood and water that brings life to His bride, to His Church.
Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He has walked this valley of the shadow of death.
He is the One who joins Himself to you in water and blood. In the waters of Baptism, He births you from above – new life. With His blood He feeds and sustains you. He is the one who walks with you in the valley of the shadow of death. He walks with you in your suffering and in your death.
Jesus has walked your way before. He has laid down His life and He has taken it up again. This One who has power to take up His life again, takes you with Him through death to eternal life.
IN+J
All Saints Lutheran Church and School 