Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 13, 2019 - 5th Week of Lent - Sat
[Ezek 37:21-28 and John 11:45-56]"You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish." He did not say this on his own but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him. [John]
Caiaphas, the high priest, speaks the words quoted above in response to the worried reactions among the members of the ruling council of the Jews, called the Sanhedrin. The reaction of the people to Jesus' "sign" in raising Lazarus from the dead was gathering steam. To us, Caiaphas' statement might seem self-serving. The Roman rulers would not not take kindly to any kind of popular movement that would threaten their presence, which would then mean the loss of power on the part of the Jerusalem Jewish authorities. However, part of his prophecy seems to echo the prophecy of Ezekiel in today's first scripture: I will take the children of Israel from among the nations to which they have come, and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land. I will make them one nation upon the land, in the mountains of Israel, and there shall be one prince for them all." The early Christian community would have heard this echo in telling the story of how and why Jesus was put to death by the Jewish authorities.
Tomorrow, Palm Sunday, we will gather to hear the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. We will hold palm branches and sing "Hosanna." Through the daily scriptures we will follow his movements during the week. This will lead us to the "upper room" where Jesus will institute the way in which we remember this week every day at the Eucharist. This will lead us to the Garden of Gethsemane and the trial during which we will cry,"Crucify him, crucify him!" And then we will follow Mary Magdalen and others to the tomb to find it empty! We will be in the same crowd that goes from welcome to condemnation to sorrow and then to the wonder of the resurrection. We will be elbow to elbow with the plotters and the disciples. AMEN