Palm Sunday: The Passion of our Lord

Jesus is on trial for his life. He faces the literally “excruciating” sentence of death by having nails hammered into his wrists and his feet, then being left to suffer the pain and humiliation of being hung on a cross for hours before exhaustion leaves him unable to use his legs to lift the air out of his lungs, and he finally suffocates.

And yet, on trial for his life, as he is questioned, first by the High Priest then by Pilate the Roman Governor, Jesus has only three words to say in his defense: “You say so.” That is all he says in his defense. And those three words are not even really of defense of himself, because Jesus will not concede the authority of either the religious or political leaders to judge him. They presume to question him. But with just three words, Jesus turns the question back on them. The Questioned ends up questioning the Questioners.

“I put you under oath before the living God,” the High Priest demands of Jesus, “tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” And all Jesus says with a shrug of his shoulders is, “You say so.” And so he turns the question back on the High Priest. What do you think the Messiah, the Anointed of Israel, is supposed to look like? Is he supposed to look like you, High Priest, a religious leader who will lead the worship of Israel in exactly the right way?

And what should the Son of God look like? Should he come down from heaven in a blinding light that drives every human being to their knees before the power of God? Do you want a Messiah who can command human beings to do the will of God, while their hearts remain closed to God's love? And so the Questioned questions the questioner.

“Are you the King of the Jews?” Pilate the Roman Governor questions Jesus. And all Jesus says with a shrug of his shoulders is, “You say so.” And so he turns the question back on Pilate. What do you think a King should look like? Should he look like your Emperor, Tiberius, in Rome? Should he look like a man who can use people for his own pleasure and benefit simply because he has the power of life or death over them? Should he be a military conqueror who creates an empire of resentful slaves? Should he be a soldier victorious in war, at least until the next one?

And so the Questioned questions the questioner. The High Priest and Pilate both condemn Jesus – don’t be fooled by Pilate’s empty gesture of hand-washing. But Jesus does not condemn. He simply leaves them with his questions for them to consider for all time.

I daresay that none of the questions you might have for Jesus are as accusatory as those asked by the High Priest or Pilate. But questions we do have for Jesus. Why do tornados destroy churches and lives? Why do some people become slaves to addiction? Why do people cause so much pain to themselves and others? Why are communities changed by economic and social forces beyond their control? How do we pick up the pieces? Why should I have to accept a “new normal” that doesn’t seem to be as good as the old normal?

Underneath their accusations, there was genuine pain and uncertainty for the High Priest and Pilate. What kind of Messiah can you be, Jesus, if you can’t deliver us from Roman oppression, the High Priest really wants to know. How can you be the kind of king that crazy Tiberius in Rome would actually listen to, Pilate really wants to know.

We all have questions of Jesus. I invite you this Holy Week to bring those questions in prayer to the One who stands before you bound, and ready to hear your questions as he stood ready to hear the High Priest’s and Pilate’s. And if you fear to ask those questions because they might sound like accusations, do not fear. Jesus has heard them before. He did not condemn the High Priest or Pilate and he certainly won’t condemn you.

But after you ask your question, listen in your hearts for Jesus’ answer, or perhaps I should say, listen for Jesus to turn the question around. Listen for Jesus’ question. Let him ask you what you’re really afraid of. And unlike the High Priest and Pilate, let his question change your hearts and your lives.

That’s what repentance means: to change your hearts and your lives. But in truth, in repentance, it is Jesus who changes your heart, if you will take your questions to him, and listen to his questions for you.