Music. Movies. The Way of the Cross. Week 6

Jesus Dies on the Cross and is Laid in the Tomb

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23: 44-46

Jesus died for us.

When your faith has lead you to believe that God is almighty, all knowing and all good. When your standing in the doorway - in the dark - looking for the Easter light switch, the gorey scene of Jesus’ death in the room behind you, and ask why...Why did this have to happen? The answer is always, Jesus died for us. For our sins. To save us.

Q. What is meant by the Messiah?
A. The Messiah is one sent by God to free us from thepower of sin, so that with the help of God we may live inharmony with God, within ourselves, with our neighbors,and with all creation.

Q. Who do we believe is the Messiah?
A. The Messiah, or Christ, is Jesus of Nazareth, the onlySon of God.

Book of Common Prayer, p. 849

Cool Hand Luke (1967) is an amazing and important film. With Luke Jackson (Paul Newman) as the existential Christ figure, the movie parallels much of Jesus’ story. As far as absolving our sins consider this scene from the film…

By this point in the movie Luke has already established himself as the rebel hero. The saviour of the camp, whose wit and will constantly undermine the authority of the work farm, whose resident population, by no coincidence, is 50.

50 eggs. 50 imprisoned souls. For his disciples, those who believe and those who remain skeptical, he proves that he can do the impossible. For them he performs a miracle.

What we have here is a failure to communicate. Luke reiterates that famous line, just before he’s shot in the neck. So much of the world’s issues are a result of communication breakdown. It’s certainly the case with Jesus, the logos, the word. His truth has been interrupted and miscommunicated for 2000 years.

When Pontius Pilate asks, “What is truth?” he walks away before Jesus has a chance to answer. One of the truths that Jesus’ passion begs us to remember, and one that not even Pilate could escape, is that all of us die.

Jesus Christ, in his life and death (and in that glorious Sunday event), revealed to us the truth that death is not the end, but a release from all that keeps us from being united to God and one another.