This Lent we follow Jesus as he faces evil in the hours before his death. What is evil? Who is doing evil against Jesus during Passion Week? What are ways in which we are complicit in evil? Do we take evil seriously? As we experience evil in our own lives, discover how Jesus stands in the face of evil.
Invocation
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, who delivers us from all evil.
Invitation Prayer
Lord, evil often comes from those closest to us. Peter denied you and Judas betrayed you. You know the pain of evil that comes from your friends. Comfort us when we are hurt by those we love. Lord Jesus, without you we fall. With you, we stand. Stay with us, Amen.
Word
Luke 23:34
“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”
Meditation: Show, Don’t Tell by Jo Saleska Lange
If you’ve ever taken a creative writing class, you’ve likely heard the cardinal rule of good narrative storytelling: Show, don’t tell. Essentially, “show, don’t tell” advises writers to show the events of a story through imagery, action, and dialogue, rather than simply tell readers what happened through narration. For example, instead of writing, “Julie was cold,” you might write, “Julie shivered and pulled her arms inside her oversized sweatshirt.” The idea is that readers are typically more engaged when they’re invited to experience the story along with the characters.
Of course, “show, don’t tell” isn’t a hard and fast rule—sometimes, simply telling is necessary for clarity and impact. One famous verse in scripture that “tells” rather than “shows” is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” There is a reason John 3:16 is probably the most widely known and loved verse of all time: In a single sentence, it summarizes the central message of the Christian faith.
Whereas John 3:16 tells the Gospel message in plain terms, Luke’s account of Christ’s crucifixion shows us the Gospel—it invites us to experience the evil that led up to Christ’s death and the full glory of God’s grace and forgiveness.
In the moment when Jesus foretells Jerusalem’s destruction to the group of lamenting women (23:27-31), we’re offered a picture of the collective anguish caused by sin, war, and death. When Luke describes the people casting lots and the soldiers mocking Jesus (23:34-38), we see human greed and cruelty on full display.
And then Luke shows us Christ’s response to sin, even as he suffered on the cross because of it: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (23:34). With these words, Jesus not only requested pardon for those present—he also asked to bear the burden of the entire world’s depravity upon hisshoulders. He asked to be punished for your sins and for mine.
If ever you doubt God’s love for you or for humankind, look to the story of Christ’s crucifixion. Look to the image of the cross. There is no greater picture of the human capacity for evil, and there is no greater picture of God’s unfathomable mercy.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for telling us of your love through scripture, and for showing it by sending your only son to suffer and die on our behalf. As we go about our days, help us to use both words and actions to share that Gospel message with others. Amen.
Sending
Lord, in the face of evil, you call us from death to life, from silence to speech, from idleness to action. Go with us now. Send us with your gifts. Sustain us by your promise. Amen.