From William C. Placher’s “Narratives of a Vulnerable God”
The cross…does not just represent a painful way to die. It is the humiliating penalty assigned to the lowest of criminals, the fate of the rankest of outsiders, full of shame and perhaps – although here the historical evidence is ambiguous…- subject to curse in Jewish tradition.
A few chapters earlier (in Mark’s Gospel), when Jesus talked most vividly of times of crisis ahead, he had said it would be imposters claiming to be messiahs who would work signs and wonders, while disciples would suffer floggings and arrest, betrayal and hatred. In that context, as bystanders call on him to work a miracle and come down from the cross, it is his silent suffering that paradoxically confirms his identity as the true Messiah.
“It is his silent suffering that paradoxically confirms his identity as the true Messiah.” This is a suffering for and with…this is living with those who do not add up to much in the world. In fact, here is the Messiah completely shut out of the positions and places of power and removed from the circle of influential types who like to make sure everyone knows they are influential. There is in this story no hint of one’s need to “make it” to a certain level of sophistication or enlightenment in order to be included in God’s Reign. Our God is vulnerable even to the point of being so associated with what may be called the “underbelly” of society that he is tossed out and discredited just as they are. The Messiah is not raised up among the people by following along the popular paradigm of success and the dominant values of the culture – that would be nothing different from the status quo that brings limited and biased life. The Messiah, brings power for life even where we have been told there is no power or worth.
Connection: A simple refrain is always good to keep on hand during the days of our lives. “And I will raise you up, I will raise you up. I will raise you up on the last day.” Our source of hope and strength and new life is given to us as a promise not something we are able to muster together by our attitudes or actions.
It is by your eternal presence with all your people, without condition, that we are encouraged to be a new people with a power handed to us no matter where we might be. Inspire us to live each day as though we are concerned for the welfare of all and willing to use our lives to be advocates for those who are forgotten or throw away within our society. Praise to you Gracious Lord. Amen.
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