The death of Jesus: Matthew 27:45-66
Imaginative Contemplation
Enter into the scene
Word had spread rapidly among our friends that Jesus had been taken into custody and had been sentenced to death by crucifixion. I quickly contacted some of my friends, and we met near the execution place. We could not believe what had happened. Maybe this was just a rumour? We women had been with Jesus over the last few years, providing him with meals and other support. He was such an inspirational leader, and we all remarked that we felt safe and valued when he was with us.
We knew he had enemies; indeed, he sometimes looked for trouble by accusing the Pharisees and elders of their hypocrisy which was so obvious to all of us.
We heard a rowdy mob moving up the hill, and their shouting of the leaders. To our horror, we saw Jesus with another man, struggling to carry a heavy weight which was the cross upon which he would die. There was silence as the group reached the summit, then we heard the cross falling to the ground and then the sickening cries as Jesus was nailed to the cross. Oh, how could that possibly be happening? Our beloved Jesus, who had healed so many, encouraged the fearful, loved all the people! Now he was nailed to a cross which was roughly hoisted up and dropped into the holding niche in the rocks. We heard his cry, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Sick at heart, sobbing in disbelief, we stood there, wanting so much to be nearer to him, to comfort him, to take away his pain. But we were helpless, watching on from a distance. Did he know we were there? There was another cry, and then, silence. Death had come to the prince of life. One of the guards stood up and proclaimed, :
‘Indeed, this was the son of God!’
The crowd began to disperse, and we were able to go to the cross. Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man of influence, got permission to take the body and bury it in his own new tomb which was near-by.
Strange things were happening all around us. It was said that the curtain in the Temple was torn right down the middle. Other people said that they had seen ghosts wandering through the streets of Jerusalem. That evening, which was the beginning of the Sabbath, the leaders met to ensure that the tomb would be guarded so that the followers of Jesus could not take his body away. Doing such things on the Sabbath was against the Law, but these hypocrites were too blind to see their error.
Our small group of friends spent the night together grieving deeply for our lost Lord and Master.
For further reflection
Discuss with Jesus the following points:
· Do I follow Jesus ‘from a distance’?
· Am I able to protest against injustice?
· Do I support social justice actions?
· Joseph took a risk in asking for the body of Jesus. Am I ready to take risks for the sake of the Kingdom?
· Can I remember a time when I was grieving the loss of someone close to me? Did I turn to the Lord for support?
· How can I support people when they are grieving?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you gave your life for me that I might live in you. Thank you for such love that you were willing to die that I might have eternal life. May I respond by proclaiming your Kingdom of love and peace. Amen.