GOOD FRIDAY

Are You the Messiah? - Matthew 27:11-14, Mark 15:1-5, Luke 23:1-3, John 18:29-38, Matt 11:2-6, Luke 7:18-23
Help Me Carry My Cross - Matt 16:24-25, Mark 8:34-35, Luke 9:23-24
Help Me Repent - Matthew 3:8, Luke 3:8, Romans 2:4-7, Romans 12:2, Eph 4:22-24

During the season of Lent in 2024, we held weekly Prayer & Song meetings focused on the stations of the cross. This helped focus me on the season and see things in a new way. When we got to Jesus being interviewed/interrogated by Pilate, his questions reminded me of the question John the Baptist asked Jesus much earlier in his ministry.

John was Jesus’ cousin and a prophet of God. John knew, from the womb, who Jesus was, but as he found himself in prison and headed to his death, John had questions. Was Jesus not meeting John’s expectations? Did John assume a happier ending to his story? I don’t know for sure what was going through John’s mind when he sent his disciples to ask Jesus “Are you the coming one, or should we look for someone else?” but I can relate.

I’ve never been imprisoned for my faith or as a result of my actions in ministry. I’ve never feared for my life as a consequence of speaking truth to power, but I’ve walked through seasons where God didn’t do what I expected, where things got hard.

Somehow, even in my hardest seasons, my faith that God was there and was walking with me, empowering me to keep going, never faltered. I questioned, I pouted, I threw fits, but I knew God was still there. A gift of faith? Maybe. More important than suffering whatever I have suffered, and why I suffered any of it, is that I’ve learned so much about my Lord from those times.

These questions of John the Baptist and Pontius Pilate resonate with me. “Are you the King of the Jews?” “Are you the Messiah?” “Are you who they say you are?” “Should we look for someone else?”

Whether you are new to the faith or struggling with questions along the way because God hasn’t done things you expected, don’t be afraid to ask afresh who Jesus Christ is. Ask God directly. There can be no better question. “Who do you say you are? Please show us who you are.”

May we come out of this season of Lent and this Easter holiday with fresh revelation and new perspective on who Jesus is and what it means to follow him.