Theme: Re//connect
In this age of being connected to the internet, connected to the news or sports channels and social media, we find ourselves rather disconnected from one another and especially from God. How do we make that connection again?
Accept the Lenten 2022 challenge to Re//Connect by committing yourself to attending every Sunday worship and participating in a discussion group.
Pastor Paula’s sermon series is based on the Dr. Amy Jill Levine book, “Witness to the Cross: A Beginners Guide to Holy Friday.” Each week we will learn about a different person or group of people who were gathered together at Golgotha, for the very public crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. By examining each of these people, we will learn more about who we are, and how we show up and connect – to God as well as one another.
This Week:
In order for us to get from Galilee, where Jesus has been teaching, to Jerusalem where the place of crucifixion awaits, we’ll read about Jesus’ entrance into the city on a donkey and then skip over to the site of the crucifixion outside of town. There were crowds at Jesus’ entrance praising God with “Hosanna!” There were crowds at the trial shouting “Crucify him!” At the foot of the cross were bystanders and scoffers, shouting insults and mocking. Where would you be?
Discussion Questions for this week’s chapter(s) of “Witness at the Cross”,
Introduction (Simon of Cyrene) and Chapter One “Bystanders and Scoffers” pages 1-26.
1. Have you ever been a bystander to something that you sensed (or knew absolutely) was wrong? Did you intervene? What happened? If you did not intervene, why not?
2. Our students witness bullying and “scoffing” everyday, whether in the halls at school or on the bus. How would you advise them to respond if there are no adults present? Should they be silent bystanders? Should they risk bodily harm?
3. Why did the Chief Priests and the Scribes see Jesus as a threat? What did he do that made them so angry? [remember the scripture readings from this week] The words, “Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani” are the first words of Psalm 22. Read through that Psalm and outline it from beginning (cry of dereliction) to the acclaim of universal praise. Does this help you in your understanding of these words? Do you think they touched the Chief Priests and Scribes?
4. Why did the Roman government see Jesus as a threat to the empire? What specific acts were particularly threatening? Are we still uncomfortable with Jesus’ seditious acts or do we recognize a noble truth in his teaching?
Since both the church of the day and the government of the day were wrong about Jesus, consider whether we find ourselves able to point out errors in our modern church or in our representative government?
A Prayer for the Week: Merciful God, whenever we gloat at others’ misfortune; whenever we place more faith in our buildings and our beliefs than we do in you; whenever we pledge more allegiance to our political leaders and to our nation than to you and your reign – in all these times, we confess we are there as Jesus is crucified. By your Spirit, save us from being bystanders, and make us active participants in his work of creating a heaven on earth, until that day your will is finally and fully done. Amen.
Scriptures
Luke 19:35-44
Then [the disciples] brought [the colt] to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!’
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’
As he came near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. Indeed, the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side. They will crush you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.’
Mark 15:29-32
Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!’ In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.’ Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
John 19:19-22
Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’ Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, “The King of the Jews”, but, “This man said, I am King of the Jews.” ’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written I have written.’
