ARE YOU HERE?
John 19:1-37
Many of us have been singing the hymn: "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?" since we were young children. The old Afro-American spiritual asks us: "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?, when they nailed him to the tree? when they pierced him in the side? when they laid him in the tomb? Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble."
"Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" "when they nailed him to the tree?" There were probably many there that day--at least when they nailed him to the cross. The crucifixions attracted many spectators. The place of crucifixion was outside the city gates of Jerusalem. The upright posts were a permanent fixture and were used over and over again. The condemned person was tied or nailed by the hands to a smaller cross piece which was hauled up by ropes. Men were crucified facing the spectators; women with their faces to the cross. Death was slow accompanied by great thirst and pain and circling birds overhead. It was no different for Jesus. His apostles except for the one he loved were not there when their Lord was crucified.
"Were you there when they pierced him in the side?" There is a command in the Book of Deuteronomy that prohibits leaving the corpse on the cross overnight, so if death were too slow in coming, they broke the person's legs or thrust a sword or spear in his side. They broke the legs of the criminals on either side of Jesus but because Jesus was already dead, they pierced his side. There were probably very few people still there. Most had gone home for their meal and the apostles had abandoned him long before. They weren't there when they pierced him in the side.
"Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?" When he died, his mother was there as was the disciple he loved and his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. And Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus quietly came that night and arranged for a proper burial in a new tomb. But most of his closest friends and followers had long since deserted him. They weren't there when they laid him in the tomb.
We weren't there on that first Good Friday and we can't change the actions or inactions of those who were. We can see that it was a Good Friday and not a Bad Friday because we know the Resurrection follows the Crucifixion. We remember and we give thanks as we are filled with sorrow for what was.
I believe the question for us is not: "Were you there when they crucified our Lord?" but rather "Are you here when they crucify our Lord?"
In a few minutes we will pray the Solemn Collects of Good Friday. They remind us not to crucify our Lord all over again by our absence in God's world. Please listen to the solemn collect that especially speaks to my heart and I hope to yours:
Gracious God, the comfort of all who sorrow, the strength of all who suffer: Let the cry of those in misery and need come to you, that they may find your mercy present with them in all their afflictions; and give us, we pray, the strength to serve them for the sake of him who suffered for us, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Each time we buy a can of soup for Flint Street instead of a candy bar for ourselves or donate to and shop at the ECHO Thrift Store, we serve those who suffer for the sake of him who suffered for us. Each time we support a mother and baby in Guatemala or a child in India, we serve those who suffer for the sake of him who suffered for us. Each time we share a meal, phone a shut-in, take Holy Communion to those who can't come to church, we serve those who suffer for the sake of him who suffered for us. Each time we visit a prisoner or a bereaved person, we serve those who suffer for the sake of him who suffered for us. Each time we do those things and many other acts of compassion, we are here to intervene in the crucifixions in our world. Each time we serve instead of turning our backs, we are testifying to the point of the Resurrection.
In our hymnal, there are only four verses to "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?" But in the version sung by the slaves, there are more verses. Here is that version:
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they pierced Him in the side?
Were you there when the sun refused to shine?
Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
Were you there when they rolled the stone away?
Did you know He is risen from the dead?
On this Good Friday we remember with sorrow the suffering of our Lord but we live in the hope of the Resurrection.
Give us the strength, we pray, to serve those who are suffering for the sake of him who suffered for us.
Amen.
The Rev. Betsy Porter
Good Friday
April 2, 2010
St. James’
Eureka Springs, AR