From: Victor St. George <pastorvic@HOTMAIL.COM>

I have attempted an eight-part reflection by different participants/witnesses to the passion of Jesus for Good Friday.

Betrayal and Arrest: Mark 14:43-50

43 Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45 So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. 47 But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 Then Jesus said to them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled." 50 All of them deserted him and fled.

My name is Judas, and I know what you have come to think of me. The truth is that I am not the worst person in the world, you know. I was brought to this state of affairs not by my greed or by my desire to hurt Jesus, but because I was really his closest friend.

We had started to follow the Rabbi because of what we believed him to be - the messiah. This is the one, I thought, who would bring Israel to power again; we would regain our great monarchy and get ourselves out from under the dictatorships from which we had for so long suffered. If it wasn't the Babylonians it was the Assyrians, if it wasn't the Assyrians it was the Greeks, if it weren't the Greeks it was… Anyway, now the Romans had us under their heels, and it was time for a change. And that's where Jesus came in. He was supposed to lead the rebellion, or the insurrection, or whatever you want to call it. We were going to be his captains in the army that defeated the Romans and restore the pride to Jerusalem and all Israel and Judah. Everyone back home understood that that was exactly what was going to happen. And it seemed like every week I heard that one of my family members back home was questioning what was really going on. They wanted to know when this takeover was going to happen; when we were going to finally do something Instead of just wandering around teaching people. I mean, if the kingdom of God was supposed to be near, wasn't it time to re-establish the temple? So all I was trying to do was to get things moving. I figured that if Jesus were pushed, he would have to do what we all thought he was going to do. If I placed him in danger, he would lead us in a revolution that would change our situation. I didn't know this would happen. I was just trying to go along with the plan I thought we all agreed on.

Before the Council: Matthew 26:57-68

57 Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58 But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. 59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, "This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’ " 62 The high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?" 63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death." 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, 68 saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?"

I am Caiaphas, the chief priest. I am responsible for keeping things the way they are supposed to be around here. We of the priestly class have an awesome responsibility, maintaining the temple and helping people find a relationship with God.

It is important that we maintain good order in our lives, especially with the political situation as it is. We don’t suffer undue hardships at the hands of the Romans, but it still chafes to be occupied here in the land that was promised to us through Abraham.

And we do look forward to the Messiah. But this Jesus? A carpenter’s child from a third-rate town not even in Judah? Certainly Yahweh has in mind a better messiah than this. Someone who has been educated in the temple, someone who is politically astute and doesn’t just wander around the countryside telling pretty stories.

Of course we had to take care of this Nazarean – he was acquiring a certain following, and the Romans were beginning to take notice. When Yahweh’s messiah comes – and he will, believe me! – he will undoubtedly be a member of the priestly class. Perhaps not a Pharisee, but at least an educated man. And he will know how to go after the goal without all that wandering and story telling, and breaking the laws of the sabbath.

There’s no telling what would happen if this Jesus character were allowed to continue to teach the rabble. It’s really for their sake that we are doing this – until the true messiah comes to destroy the occupying government, we simply must go along.

Denial: John 18:25-27

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

He called me petra, cephas - the rock. Until he came along, I was just Simon the fisherman, but now I was supposed to be pretty special. I don't feel very special right now - right now I just feel afraid. I wanted to be strong for him. He made me want to be better than I thought I was able to be, and sometimes what I did was better than ANYONE thought I could be. But when it counted, I panicked, and I couldn't even admit that I knew him! But I thought it was important to be as close to him as possible, so I gathered with the crowd outside of the residence of the chief priest. I kept waiting to hear what was going on inside. Sure enough, someone recognized me, and even called out so that the whole crowd began to look at me. That's when I got real nervous - who knew what they were capable of? But how were the rest to know what was going on if I didn't stay and wait to see what was going to happen next.

So I denied knowing Jesus. If I hadn't, who knows what might have happened. I was just trying to go along with him…

Trial: Mark 15:1-5, 12-15

As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2 Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" He answered him, "You say so." 3 Then the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Pilate asked him again, "Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you." 5 But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. Pilate spoke to them again, "Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?" 13 They shouted back, "Crucify him!" 14 Pilate asked them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Crucify him!" 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

I am Pilate. I have the responsibility to administer the emperor's government here in this place. It is a post that Isn't considered to be a very good assignment - third-rate officials get sent to places like this. But I try to make the best of it when things happen. Take today, for example. They bring in front of me a man who, as far as I can tell, has done nothing wrong whatsoever. And they expect me, as the emperor's representative, to accommodate them by killing an innocent man. Of course, part of the art of diplomacy and governance is the ability to find ways to accommodate those governed. So while there was no real reason to execute this man, I allowed him to be crucified. It is a way for us all to be able to get along.

Mockery: Matthew 17:27-31

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" 30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

My name doesn't really matter, I am simply a soldier In the emperor's army, another centurion doing his duty. But I was on duty that day, and I remember how I felt when I saw that the rest of my troop was treating this man who had been condemned. See, the army is not a tradition in my family. I am the first who was able to get into the military, so it's important that I do a good job. I come from a large, poor family, so I am able to help support them from my pay. But not growing up in a military family means that there are certain things that I simply don't understand, and things that I'm not used to. Like the way they taunted and abused this man. It seemed to me that he was In bad enough shape having been whipped, and that we didn't need to do any more to him. But the rest of the guys began to abuse him in this way, and while I hated to see it, I also knew that there are simply things you have to do if you are one of the guys. So I began to spit on him and taunt him too. It made me sick, but sometimes you just have to go along if you want to get along.

March to Golgotha: Mark 15:21-22

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. 22 Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).

My name is Simon, and I came from the villiage of Cyrene for the high holy days with my two boys. We brought a lamb for sacrifice, and celebrated the passover with my wife’s family – she is unable to attend this year’s sacrifice because of the birth of our daughter; she is still under quarentine for another week. I was surprised to see such a great crowd gathering away from the temple. There are so many Jews in Jerusalem for the passover that they need to gather someplace, but why along this road? But I could see that the crowd was excited about something, so I told Alexander and Rufus to wait for me at the corner and pushed my way forward until I could see what was causing such excitement. That’s when the centurion grabbed me by the arm and told me that I was to carry the cross for this man who had been whipped. I tried to explain to him that I was just visiting, and didn’t have time to get involved, but the soldier just tightened his grip on my arm and started to reach for his sword. So I went over and grabbed the cross upon which this man was to be crucified. I was worried about my sons – I didn’t expect to have them see a crucifixion – especially on a holy weekend. But I figured that I didn’t really have much choice here – carry his cross or get killed by the soldiers. So I carried it. Not because I wanted to, but I had to go along or be killed.

Crucifixion: Luke 23:31-43

Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ 34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" 36 The

soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." 39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah?Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 He

replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Yes, I am a criminal. I have supported my family by stealing, extortion, and any other way that I could find to survive. Hey, what else could I do? I don't come from some fine, fancy family. I wasn't able to go to some fancy school, my days couldn't be wasted with fine talk. So I did what I needed to do. Now I get my rewards, I suppose. Hanging here next to some guy who didn't even do anything! Well, never mind his problems, I have troubles of my own here. But at least I know what I am - this guy doesn't even seem to know that much. So this is the one that claimed to be the messiah. If he is, why doesn't he just climb on down? "Hey you! If you're for real, why don't you save yourself and me too! No need for us to hang here if you are the messiah, Is there?" Yeah, I didn't think so - he's not going to do anyone any good. I didn't think he could. I suppose there isn't any hope left, but then again, I never had much hope in the first place. I just tried to get along the best I could.

Death: Mark 15:33-41

33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "Listen, he is calling for Elijah." 36 And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down." 37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God’s Son!" 40 There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

My name is Mary. I have been with the master since he cast those seven demons out of me. I never thought it could come to this. He spent so much time helping others – there was no reason for him to even talk to me, but he did, and he healed me. He was always doing things like that; touching someone who was an outcast from the rest of society – a leper, a woman who bled, a cripple. None of that mattered to him, he just kept touching people, reaching out to help others. It didn’t matter to him that the priests and scribes were getting upset at the things he was doing, he just kept teaching and healing and… Now look. He is dead. The one who has done so much for us all has been killed because he didn’t make nice with the people in power. What he did was let people know that the priests and scribes and governors were no better than those of us who were just normal folks. He threatened their status, and for that, they killed him. Just because he wouldn’t go along with them.