Lift High The Crucifix
Maundy Thursday, April 17, 2014-04-16
Texts – Exodus 12:1-14; I Corinthians. 11:23-26; John 13:1-17, 31-3
There are times when we find the actual image of Jesus' body hanging on a cross offensive. That's one of the reasons that you don't usually find a crucifix hanging in Protestant churches. . . It's plainly just too offensive. Don't we want to come to church to feel good?
I was reminded of these sentiments some time ago when a fairly young bride to be stopped by to "scout out our church" as a possible venue for her upcoming wedding. She was gushing about the beauty of the facility except for one thing. As we stood together in the nave, she said, "can't we do something about that thing? And then she pointed to the large crucifix in our chancel." And I said, "No thankfully we can't get rid of "that thing".
Many people still would want to. We live in a culture that does everything it can to deny the reality of death. We don't like death. We don't like things that remind us of death. And we certainly don't like things that remind us of our own contributions to the reality of death of others and ourselves.
But St. Paul reminds the early Christians and us – that as we gather for the meal our Lord instituted, the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion – as we remember and participate, as we gather around the altar, underneath His cross for the meal; even as everyone is welcomed to the meal, regardless of age, understanding, gender, economic status - we are proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes.
Although this is difficult because in doing so we are faced with the truth about ourselves, our own actual participation in the killing of Jesus through our greed, our fear, our damaging God's creation to turn massive profits while forgetting about those most vulnerable, it is so essential because in doing so we are also confronted with the truth of God.
This truth of God is both difficult and oh so wonderful. The truth that God is just and holy – and will not deny those realities. At the same time the truth that God loves us so, that God refuses to leave us alone in our brokenness, our rebellion, our hatred, envy, greed and fear. . So God intervenes – in a radically upside down way. God intervenes, not in the way of human power of excluding or eliminating the so-called "enemy". God intervenes not in the wa we humans would expect. Rather God intervenes in these ways: by washing the feet of his own disciples including Judas who is going out this very night to betray him. God intervenes in Jesus in the way of service – to those disciples who after 3 years still didn't get it; in the way of service to we who so often think there are more important things to do than to honor God or to serve others, who often forget or refuse to pray or even give of our times, talents, and property to others in need, selflessly.
God refuses to give up on the first disciples. And God refuses to give up on us. So, Jesus goes to Jerusalem, to love the world – to most certainly die, yes on that cross.
This is why we are to proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again. Not only tonight, but most certainly tonight – but also tomorrow and the next day and the next day. This is what we are to do in our worship, in the ways we work and in the ways we love.
There is no Easter without Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. There is no love without sacrifice. And there is no eternal life, no reconciliation with God, with others and with ourselves without the death of Christ.
So, dear people let's hold the crucifix high. Do not be ashamed by it. Instead may we be humbled by the One who dies there – humbled yes, yet at the same time, inspired and most importantly reborn. Amen and Amen.