Good Friday 2021. The Journey to the Cross.

The Lent readings tell a familiar story.  The story of a journey.  A journey to the cross.  

Let’s remind ourselves of that journey. After his baptism, Jesus went into the wilderness for forty days and forty very cold nights.  The voices of Satan came whispering, tempting, but Jesus refuses to be distracted or tempted.

After all that time that he spent alone, He now sets His face to Jerusalem and His destiny. We can’t save ourselves, so He will save us.  On the way, He gives us examples of the way that we should live following His example. He talks to the outcasts of society; people who are different, people from other traditions. People with different languages, perhaps a different colour. Even women.  Jesus doesn’t exclude anybody.  He heals.  He heals the sick, the deaf, the blind.  He even defeats the grave.  

The people shout and wave palms, caught up in expectation, but then they are fickle.  Only a few days later, they turn on Him as he is betrayed, tortured and put to to death.  Betrayed, tortured and put to death for us.  For me. For you.  

Let’s walk behind him.  And then through the eyes of His mother, His friends, the soldiers, all of those that just came to watch, even those who had Him crucified; watch with their eyes as this final act sets His people free.