When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” After flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.
(Matthew 27:1-2,22,24,26b)
Silence.
What does the crucifixion of Jesus mean for the world? Why has this event had such staying power in the world, even historically? What does it mean to me?
Silence.
He was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain.
(Isaiah 53:8-10a)
Almighty God, your Son was rejected and condemned to die by our hand. Grant that we may not reject his word of truth and salvation, but follow him all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
