Holy Week part 4

Click here to read Mark 15:16-27

Mark offers some poignant details about the time in-between the verdict of crucifixion and carrying out the sentence. We read that Jesus was mocked by being dressed up in a purple robe which is the color of royalty in Jesus’ day. Most people could not afford the dye to color cloth, something to think about as you get dressed tomorrow morning or prepare to dye Easter eggs later on this week. In fact, any time you walk into church and you see the color purple you know that it is a time when we are recognizing/celebrating Jesus’ royalty as well.

Only the people in Mark do it in a mocking tone. They also fashion a crown of thorns and sarcastically salute him. Like adding insult to injury or pouring salt into a wound; there is something within the human spirit that once we begin the downward spiral of petty bickering and brokenness it takes on a life of its own. I notice that within myself sometimes. I get upset at one thing and then another and then another until there is a grey, gloomy cloud lingering over my head. It happens in groups. You have a group talking about something and once one mean/petty thing is said it can be difficult to turn the tide. People close off and want to protect themselves or they shut down.

Mark tells us that a man named Simon carried the cross for Jesus; perhaps to give him respite or perhaps because Jesus was too weak or perhaps just because the Roman authorities could do whatever the Roman authorities wanted to.

Mark tells us the time was 9 am in the morning, just as the heat of the day is dawning. The night time trial has passed, but the consequences of betray and desertion still linger.

It is not a scene I like to linger with myself. I’d prefer to close my eyes, rush past and try to get to Easter as soon as possible. Within the church we are called both to rejoice together and weep together. This passage offers us the chance as the church to proclaim loud and clear that it is okay to grieve. It is okay to notice your emotions in response to this passage. In fact, I think we should.

I pray today as you linger with is passage you allow your hearts to be open to not only the suffering of Jesus, but also those who suffer so much today. And may our openness to the suffering we read in scripture, the suffering we experience in our life, and the suffering we hear and read about remind us of those wonderful, prayerful words of Paul, “nothing…nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” Amen.