By Rev Lee
Last Friday, in the Lenten Book Study, the book group members shared thoughts on many hard questions about the two criminals crucified with Jesus. Between the two criminals nailed on the cross is hung Jesus, the Lamb of God. And, we are standing on the ground as spectators, witnessing human sins and being awed by divine mercy that covers all our sins.
The criminal on the right side of Jesus acknowledges his own sin, condemns the other criminal in defense of Jesus, recognizes Jesus as the Messiah, and pleas, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answers him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:42-43). This is such a liberating promise in the moment of the most excruciating pain!
Amy-Jill Levine, the author of the book we are studying, Witness at the Cross, says that when we think of paradise, “the place may be less important than the company we keep. We might shift our concerns from where we shall live to with whom we shall live.”
When it comes to a company, interestingly, Jesus had some shady political company. One of whom was known as Simon the Zealot. The Zealots were a party who supported for Jewish independence, throwing off Roman rule in order to establish a Mosaic theocracy. The other was Matthew who was a tax collector and would have been in the employ of Rome or of the Jewish officials who ruled with Rome’s blessing. These two disciples were from opposite ends of the political spectrum, but their allegiance to Jesus made them brothers and co-workers for the Good News of Christ.
Such that, our differing views are not to argue with each other or to put down the other but to build up the Church together for a greater purpose. Our baptismal covenant clearly states that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death. And, as Christ was raised from the death, we too live a new life (cf. Rom 6:3-4). We eat with Jesus, talks with Jesus, walks with Jesus, no matter what circumstances we are in.
The journey of Jesus whom we follow continues until He reaches Jerusalem. Today, our Gospel lesson portrays Jesus in the midst of that journey. Jerusalem, pronounced as Ierusalem in Latin and Greek, is a compound of Semitic, the Afro-Asiatic language family that includes Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, and Amharic. The first part uru means “house or town,” and the second part salim means “peace” or Canaanite goddess of twilight. So, it means a city of peace.
Ironically, though, today this Holy City remains fiercely disputed among Jews, Muslims, and Christians who dwell in there. It was once ruled by the Canaanites, Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Persians, Arabs, Crusaders, Turks, and British before being divided in 1949 into eastern and western sectors under Israeli and Jordanian control.
To better understand the meaning of Jerusalem, it is worthwhile revisiting the story of Melchizedek recounted by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Melchizedek was without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life. He was king of Salem and priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings. Abraham was blessed by this king of Salem, king of peace, and he gave the king a tenth of everything (cf. Heb 7:1-3).
The biblical significance of Melchizedek whose name means “king of righteousness” is a type of Christ. The Scripture says that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of as a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4; Heb 7:13-17).
A priest is a mediator between God and humankind. In the Old Testament the Aaronic priests would make sacrifices on behalf of Israel. Those sacrifices had to be repeated over and over, and the priest would die. Jesus, our High Priest, however, is not only our mediator but also our sacrifice once for all. Moreover, because of His resurrection, death does not interrupt His work.
In the passage preceding today’s lesson, Jesus tells us to make every effort to enter through the narrow door because many will try to enter and will not be able to (Lk 13:24). Gospeler Matthew also recounts Jesus’ saying: “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Mt 7:14).
To become a disciple of Christ means to enter through that narrow door, not like winning a million-dollar jackpot lottery and living a luxurious life. Even some Pharisees knew the way Jesus was heading toward was difficult and dangerous, and they warned Him to leave that place and go somewhere else as Herod wanted to kill Him (Lk 13:31).
It is dubious if these Pharisees were honestly trying to help Jesus to stay safe out of danger or they were lying in wait for Him and seeking to catch Him in something He might say. Some scholars see a possibility of the Pharisees trying to bring Jesus more directly under their control by pressuring Him to move from Galilee to Judea where the Pharisees have great influence.
Notwithstanding, knowing what is ahead of Him, Jesus never allows the Pharisees to dissuade Him nor flees from Herod. He presses on to reach His goal, doing His daily work of healing and deliverance; no time to lose, “today, tomorrow, and the next day” (Lk 13:33). He is following the agenda of the One who sent Him.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
The repetition of a name often amplifies an emotional level – painful grief, reflecting the broken heart and great frustration, as God’s children rejected God’s way and God-sent Prophets, and even His only Son. Jesus alluded this in the Parable of the Bad Tenants who killed the son of the vineyard owner.
Prophetic ministry in the face of power will jeopardize the lives of those who speak the truth of God’s kingdom and His power. Jesus will lay down His life for God’s greater purpose to save the humanity. But, at the face of life-threatening situation, Jesus longs to gather Jerusalem under His wings (v. 34) and envision it as a brood of vulnerable chicks in need of their mother’s protection.
The journey to Jerusalem is a difficult one, but Jesus who knows us and cares so much about us will lift us up.
During this season of Lent, what is that you long for? And, how do you respond to your daily challenges? Are you ready to be Jesus’ followers, whatever it takes and wherever He leads you?
Jesus wants us to journey with Him not just 2,000 years ago but today and tomorrow. And, He has shown us how to walk through the narrow road and how to pass the small gate for our salvation. We are in the second week in Lent, not merely to know more about Jesus but to prepare ourselves to experience ever more closely our Lord Saviour who leads our lives to His cross.
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14) .