A day different from all others…
An event beyond what we can imagine…
We know the people who were there…
The Jewish leaders and the soldiers, of course.
And we can imagine a group of curious bystanders.
Perhaps a few believers in him, who he is.
His mother is present with his faithful friend.
He will be brought to… people of importance, it is said…
Annas (John 18:12-14), and Caiaphas, (Matthew 26:57-66), Pilate (Matthew 27:11-26), and Herod (Luke 26:8-12).
But what about all those who had been ‘touched’ by him, were there any of them there?…
Jairus whose daughter had been raised by HIM… (Mark 5:41-42).
One of the lepers who had been cured by HIM… (Luke 17:12-13).
Or, one of the blind men who could now see clearly, due to HIM… (Matthew 9:27-31).
Perhaps a paralytic who could now walk easily because of HIM… (Mark 2:11-12).
Was the Samaritan woman, discrete in the distance watching HIM… (John 4:1-26).
Or, the Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was alive thanks to HIM… (Mark 7:24-30).
What about the Centurion whose servant had escaped death thanks to HIM… (Luke 7:1-10).
HE was there… HE the former carpenter, the Man of Nazareth… (Mark 6:3).
The Master of a small group of disciples… (Mark 3:13-19).
The Teacher who had crowds listening to him… (Luke 8:4).
Jesus, the son of Mary… (John 19:25-26).
Christ, the Son of God… (John 10:36).
“God-with-us”, this was the name given to HIM… (Isaiah 7:14).
HE was there… condemned to death, carrying a cross, stumbling on the way to his execution…
HE was there for us…
“Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering…
He was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 52:4-5).
Of course, we were not there… at the time…
But… we are here now “healed by his wound…”
We are here… silence… adoration… thanksgiving…
Remaining in his presence… for ever remembering…
Note: There is another reflection, on a different theme, available in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/vendredi-saint-annee-c-2025/
Source: Images: unsplash.com (Iwin)
https://thinkingonscripture.com/2023/12/04/who-crucified-jesus/ https://thinkingonscripture.com/2023/12/04/who-crucified-jesus/