We enter into Holy Week with the story of Christ’s Passion. But the story of Jesus did not begin or end with his death. We are anxious as always to get to the resurrection. But we can’t get to the resurrection unless we go to the cross. Nor can we understand the cross without knowing where it all began. I have always believed that Christians should review the whole story before focusing on the Passion. So, below is a recap. I hope it will provide some context.
It is the year of Mark and Mark’s Gospel begins with John the Baptist. John was a prophetic preacher who called people of the first century to reform their lives. Something was wrong. Then, as now, the rich were getting richer, and the poor were suffering. The land was occupied by Rome and power was invested in those who played the Roman game of empire. Even some of the Temple authorities collaborated with empire, just as religious authorities collaborate today when they fail to unite against war, poverty, and racism – preferring to put their energy into matters less disturbing to empire.
Jesus heard John the Baptist and went to join his cause. But when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, his eyes and ears were opened to a larger call. The Spirit of God touched him and sent him out into the desert to wrestle with the meaning of life. Having faced the wild beasts, Jesus set out toward Galilee preaching a message of reform, as John had done, and gathering disciples to himself.
As Jesus traveled, he began to realize that people were sick from the effects of oppression and empire. He cast out the evil spirits of greed and oppression, healed those who were marginalized, and invited people to join him in an alternative community. He ignored rules that were no longer liberating to God’s people. His great mercy drew crowds of people and brought him under the scrutiny of religious and civil powers.
His disciples were eager to be part of his mission, hoping that Jesus would lead an army to defeat Rome. But really, they were very naïve. Perhaps they considered Jesus to be a revolutionary who would be more successful than the revolutionaries before him. Whatever they thought, everything came into question when they found themselves in a boat with Jesus, on the lake, in a storm.
His followers were fishermen used to storms out on the sea, but the political storm was different. Waves were rolling over the deck and all hands were needed but Jesus slept. Anxiously they woke him saying, “Teacher does it not matter to you that we are going to drown?” Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the sea “Quiet! Be still.” Then he looked at his disciples and asked them why they were so terrified, why they had no faith. Can you imagine what the disciples were feeling as they turned to one another saying: “Who can this be that even the wind and the seas obey him?” They did not yet understand.
Jesus continued to journey throughout Galilee bringing health and wholeness as he confronted the evils of the day. He went to Gerasa in Judea where, according to Mark, Jesus cast out a legion of demons from a man who was possessed. The displaced demons went into a herd of swine, ran over the edge of a cliff, and died. But do you know what? Swine do not run in herds and a legion is a military reference! The people of Gerasa begged Jesus to leave their territory after healing someone, which was very odd, unless of course, Mark’s story was about something else, something about the message of Jesus to a people whose land was occupied by the Roman military. The word that Jesus shared was revolutionary in its power – and for many people, that word was frightening.
Jesus sent his disciples out on mission telling them to take nothing on their journey but a walking stick. Instead, they were to rely on the hospitality of those they met. He encouraged them to rely on a gift economy rather than a money economy. Caring, sharing, and trust was required.
Ordinary people followed Jesus. He gave them good news that was not good news to the powerful. What if oppressed people were no longer intimidated? What if they shared their resources and took care of each other? What if they refused to join the military or pay taxes for war? What if weapons of war were outlawed? What if there was justice and a fair distribution of the wealth of the land? What if everyone was included in society? What if there was concerted effort to heal the earth? The words of Jesus touched people’s hearts and imaginations, just as they do today.
One evening, after Jesus had been instructing people, his disciples suggested that Jesus send the people away to buy food. In response Jesus said, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” Jesus wanted the people to learn they could rely on each other. With five loaves and two fish 5,000 people ate well and had leftovers. Afterward, Jesus told his disciples to get into the boat and cross back over the water while he dismissed the crowds. Once again there was a storm, but this time Jesus was not in the boat with them. From a distance, on the shore, Jesus could see that the disciples were still struggling. So, he rescued them again. This time he walked across the water of the lake to join them -- which terrified the disciples even more than when Jesus had commanded the winds to stop. They really did not understand.
People continued to gather around Jesus wherever he went because he offered hope as well as healing.
But Jesus challenged the religious leaders who were rigid in their interpretation of the law.
He opened the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind to the good news.
But Jesus made those who opposed him very, very uncomfortable.
When it was time, Jesus asked his disciples, as he asks all of us; “Who do you say that I am?” You are the Messiah” Peter said. But when Jesus began to teach his disciples that he would have to suffer and die, they refused to accept it. Peter argued with Jesus and Jesus reprimanded Peter: ‘Get behind me you Satan’. Jesus was determined to stay the course. He would continue to teach by example as long as he could. He would not be silenced. “If you wish to come after me, you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow in my footsteps.”
Jesus entered Jerusalem, mocking Caesar as he rode in on a donkey. He challenged the Temple directly as he threw out the money changers, confronted the scribes, and pointed out the tragedy of taking the widow’s offering while temple coffers grew.
Jesus did not tolerate the abuse of power; those who took advantage of widows and orphans, those who oppressed the people of the land, and those who looked only for personal gain. No, Jesus did not make the powerful happy. As a result, an official decision was made to arrest him, away from large numbers of his followers so that people would not riot. So it was that Jesus was arrested, tried, and put to death.
For centuries religious and civil authorities have worked hard to domesticate the life of Jesus, spiritualizing his message, making him the model of ‘civility and social order,’ or a caricature of whatever ‘truth’ is popular. Jesus is less dangerous to authority that way.
There are other stories, of course, but hopefully, this brief recap provides context for what comes next. The Passion will be read twice this week, on Passion Sunday and on Good Friday. As his followers, we are charged with remembering the whole story.
May God be with you this Holy Week.
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