While I was waiting for the service to start, I took some time to read over the death of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. Here, we read as Jesus goes from being arrested, arraigned, and then executed in pretty short order. I was struck by the typical things. The brutality of it all, the way Jesus handled the situation, and the reaction of his followers.
What jumped out this time, though, was new to me. I'm guessing people have already had this thought and might have even written books on it but hey, it's new to me!
The charge against Jesus that was mostly maligned against him was that of insurrection. The priests who wanted him dead had no authority to kill him as they were under the rule of the Romans. The charges were that he was "subverting the nation" and that he "opposes payment of taxes to Caesar" and "claims to be king" (Luke 23:1-4).
The first two were totally false and Jesus had actually preached the exact opposite of those (Luke 20:20-26). The last, about being a king, Jesus confessed to and Pilate really didn't care. I'm guessing Pilate thought, so this itinerant preacher says he's a king, whatever, he's crazy. However, the people persisted and Pilate conceded.
The next part is what's interesting. Apparently, once a year, the Romans would let one prisoner go. I'm not really sure why but they did (think it had something to do with appeasing the people). When Pilate asks them who they want released, they shout for Barabbas. Now Barabbas had actually been thrown into prison for what they were accusing Jesus of! Insurrection! (Luke 23:18-19).
And this is what's interesting to me - Jesus goes to the cross innocent of those charges and another guy is set free who was guilty of them. This, of course, led me to think of myself and my own rebellion. Starting with Adam, all people are guilty of rebelling against God. We're all Barabbas and here's Jesus, the one who is innocent (and again, preached the opposite of the charges) who goes to the punishment.
It was a very humbling moment. Knowing that Jesus was dying both literally and figuratively for the crime of rebellion and insurrection.
Today my heart was broken with this knowledge. An innocent man died for my sins. . .
At Mass, they went through the Stations of the Cross, that is, 14 events leading up to the death and burial of Jesus. At each point, they read a prayer written for the particular point. Station 12 is the death of Jesus and honestly, when I read it, I was almost brought to tears.
XII - He is dead. The world's only true
goodness hangs lifeless on the cross.
Mary's child is dead. This is what sin
has caused; the silencing of the eternal
Word. Jesus, forgive me. Every time I
choose sin I share in the guilt of this
crucifixion. Stand by me in the presence
of evil that I may always choose
goodness and life. Lord, give me the
grace to repent of my sin, to do penance,
and to amend my life.
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