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, you know the evil that comes when we are alone. You prayed in the Garden while your friends were asleep. You faced the agony of death and evil alone. Do not leave or forsake us in our isolation. Draw near in the dark of night when no one else is around. Have mercy, O Lord, Amen.
Word
Luke 22:70
“So they all said, ‘Are you the Son of God then?’ And he said to them, ‘You say that I am.’”
Meditation: Manipulation by Susan Senechal
The guards taunt him to prove himself, “tell us who hit you?” The elders and teachers of the law are more subtle, “if you are the Christ, just tell us.” Behind the question is manipulation: If you tell us you are God, we’ll have what we need. They definitely have an ulterior motive.
I’m having trouble with this one. It’s the church people who turn on Jesus. That’s me—I’m a church person, born and raised. Baptized a month after I was born. Christian parents and a Christian family. Christian schools from kindergarten through college. Then a job teaching in a Christian school, and another, and a third. Married to a church worker. I’ve taught Bible studies and led women’s retreats. Yup, I’m a church person. And I’m the church person who doesn’t always live like I believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Lord of my life.
Like the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law, I want Jesus to say what I want him to say, to do what I think he should do. I don’t really want a messiah, I want a genie in the bottle and more than three wishes. I don’t think I’d ever be so bold as to say, “prove that you are God,” but my inner voice says, “God, this is what you need to do.”
Like Satan taunting Jesus in the wilderness in Matthew 4:3, “If you are the son of God, tell these stones to become bread,” I sometimes want a god who behaves himself, who acts in ways I can understand. The God I sometimes want is the God I can control, the God I can predict. Jesus’ answer to the elders and teachers of the law is fairly simple, “If I tell you, you will not believe me.”
Sometimes my eyes are closed to God’s actions in my life because he doesn’t act the way I imagine he should, and my attempts to manipulate him into doing things my way would take him off the throne. My ways would fall far short of the glorious plan he has for my life that will be revealed one day.
The motives of the elders were evil; my own motives may be just as destructive. They attempt to take away God’s power and authority and make him subjects to my wishes. Thankfully, Jesus answered, “from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God” (Luke 22:69). My attempts to manipulate him don’t take Jesus off that throne.
Dear Jesus, when I say you are Lord of my life, let that be more than just words. Help me to believe you and trust your plans are far better than anything I could imagine.
Sending
In the face of evil, may God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ fill you with every spiritual blessing. Go in his name, Amen.