Accusation

Luke 22:63-71 (The Message)

63-65 The men in charge of Jesus began poking fun at him, slapping him around. They put a blindfold on him and taunted, "Who hit you that time?" They were having a grand time with him.

66-67 When it was morning, the religious leaders of the people and the high priests and scholars all got together and brought him before their High Council. They said, "Are you the Messiah?"

67-69 He answered, "If I said yes, you wouldn't believe me. If I asked what you meant by your question, you wouldn't answer me. So here's what I have to say: From here on the Son of Man takes his place at God's right hand, the place of power."

70 They all said, "So you admit your claim to be the Son of God?"

"You're the ones who keep saying it," he said.

71 But they had made up their minds, "Why do we need any more evidence? We've all heard him as good as say it himself."

When we really take in this scene, it is hard to fathom. Jesus, bound and blindfolded, being ridiculed by his captors.

This is the most powerful person who has ever existed, fully God and fully human. He is limiting himself, accepting the abuse and allowing their painful taunting to continue.

They are hitting him, lashing out against him, and having a good laugh about his "claims" on God.

It's hard for us to imagine their ignorance...their arrogance...how wrong they are...physically striking and torturing Jesus.

But the truth is that they're not alone.

While we have never had the opportunity to strike Jesus with our own hands, we have certainly felt the pull to question his claims and lash out against him.

When the soldiers turn Jesus over to the high religious council of the Jews, this question of identity is exactly what he continues to face.

They don't understand him. He doesn't fit their conception of the Messiah. They won't accept him.

And he doesn't force his identity on them. This is the irony of Jesus. His identity is not dependent upon our opinion. But our identities can change forever when we accept Him for who He is.

A big part of growing up into faith is admitting what we don't understand. It is laying down our anger and frustration. It is giving up on our own abilities and intelligence as a way to save ourselves.

It is speaking our anger...naming the questions...and finally resolving into a blessed peace...and acceptance.

He is who he says he is. But he's willing to stand for your questions.

Arrogant though we may be...he will wait for us. Imagine the Lord of the universe who waits for us to accept him. He allows us to ask:

"Who are you? Are you the Messiah?"

His answer can cut through our self-righteous delusion:

"If I said yes, you wouldn't believe me. If I asked what you meant by your question, you wouldn't answer me. So here's what I have to say: From here on the Son of Man takes his place at God's right hand, the place of power."

What do we say to that?

God our Father, we pray that you would purge our hearts of anger, violence and self-righteous justifications. Show us your path of peace and acceptance. And thank you for your patience, the patience of Christ who allows the space for our struggle until we can call him Master.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.