Texts:
Plato
When he had done speaking, Crito said: And have you any commands for us, Socrates?”
“If you take care of yourselves you will serve me and mine and yourselves, whatever you do, even if you make no promises now; but if you neglect yourselves and are not willing to live following step-by-step, as it were, in the path marked out by our present and past discussions, you will accomplish nothing, no matter how much or how eagerly you promise at the present.” – Phaedo 115b-c
John the Evangelist
Early in the morning, Jesus was taken from Caiaphas’ house to the house of the Roman governor. The clergy did not go inside. They wanted to feel decent and respectable, so they could share the festival meal. So Pilate went outside to meet them. He asked, “What have you got against this man?” They answered, “We wouldn’t have brought him to you unless he were a trouble-maker!” Pilate said, “You had better deal with him according to your own rules!” The clergy replied, “We’re not allowed to carry out the death penalty
Pilate went back inside and ordered Jesus to be put in front of him. He asked Jesus, “Are you the rightful Leader of the Judean people?” Jesus replied, “Was it your idea to ask me that question, or have other people been talking to you about me?” Pilate said, “Not being a Judean I can’t understand what this is all about! Your own people, your appointed leaders have brought you to me. What have you been up to?” Jesus said, “I have responsibility for a different sort of world from the one you hold power in. Otherwise my followers would put up a fight to save me from the hands of our leaders. No, I’m not after your sort of power.” Pilate said, “But you’re some kind of leader, aren’t you?” Jesus said, “That’s your way of putting it. My life’s work has been to make people aware of the truth. People who are interested in the truth listen to me.” Pilate said to Jesus, “Truth, what on earth is that?” – John 18: 28-38, Good as New translation
You will have noticed already that in keeping with the plan of action for this Lent of walking with Jesus through Holy Week, one day at a time on each of the six Sundays of Lent, that we’re starting Palm Sunday with readings about Good Friday. You will have also noticed that we’re going to read the Palm Sunday story again. My intent is not to take away Palm Sunday, not to do away with the fanfare and the music of the liturgy for the day, but to hear the liturgy again as though for the first time. That is a tall order, no doubt.
Nevertheless, my proposal, in presenting Lent this way — is that Jesus’ death is not something God ordained for our salvation, on the contrary, I have suggested, Jesus’ death can only really be understood from the perspective of his life and ministry. Jesus followed God not to the cross, but life. For Jesus the experience of God trumped all other claims upon him even if to ignore them meant certain death. This was so, because the God of Jesus encompassed life itself. To remain loyal to the God of his deepest trusting, was the expression of ultimate freedom — and to get swept up into that loyalty was ultimately transformative. Continue reading “Two Noble Deaths”