A Series of Services for the Season of Lent
Week 3: The Wounds of Murder
In this service for the third week of Lent, we remember that the wounds of murder and violence we committed against our Lord were laid on Christ on the cross. Our Lenten observance reminds us that though we have been brought low by sin, our Lord will bless us with new life in him through the cross.
Prayers:
P Let us pray for the Church, for all in need, and for the whole of God’s creation. That throughout these forty days of Lent, you may give your people hope that it is Jesus, our Lord, who leads the way and takes into his body on the cross the sins of the whole world.
C Heal us, O God.
P That we might put away anger, judgment, and violence in our hearts, and instead embrace your promise of love and mercy.
C Heal us, O God.
P That all who are injured by anger, hostility, or cruelty be granted wholeness, love, and restoration.
C Heal us, O God.
P That we may seek and work for justice for all who are victims of hatred or violence in our world.
C Heal us, O God.
P For all the saints and martyrs, many of whom suffered violence in their own wounding unto death, that they may be the shining examples of the victory of the crucified and risen Lamb and the wounds of love that he bears for us still.
C Heal us, O God.
P Into your healing, wounded hands for our sake, we commend all for whom we pray.
C By Christ’s wounds, we are healed. Amen.
Scripture Readings:
• The Old Testament Reading, Exodus 20:13
You shall not murder.
• The Epistle Reading, 1 Peter 2:13-17
For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
• The Gospel Reading, John 11:47-53
So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death.
Sermon:
Jesus did not murder, but he was killed. Jesus did not engage in violence, but violence was perpetrated against him. Jesus did get angry, but he never encouraged others to use anger as a means or rationale for harming anyone, even those who despised him. Indeed, in his final act upon the cross, he called for his Father in heaven to forgive them (Luke 23:34). His disciples once wondered whether Jesus should call down fire from heaven against those who would not receive Jesus, but Jesus rebuked his disciples for thinking and speaking along those lines (Luke 9:54-55).
Jesus did, however, broaden the commandment against murder. In his Sermon on the Mount, he spoke of how anger against a brother or sister makes us liable for judgment; insulting a brother or sister makes us liable to the council; and saying, “You fool” makes us liable for the hell of fire (Matthew 5:21-26). All of that Jesus spoke in the context of encouraging us to reconcile with those who hold us in judgment.
Jesus was on a mission of love. Those who became his followers—including we ourselves—recognize this and trust him as the Lord of love. How deeply we need that love because we do get angry and insulting and speak mean-spirited words about our brothers and sisters. And if you think otherwise, consider this the next time someone cuts you off on the highway.
All of humanity is, by virtue of the Creator’s creation, brother and sister. That Creator’s creation also includes the very environment of our planet. And there are also the brothers and sisters we have by faith who are part of the community called Church. We have a lot of work to do toward reconciling in love with all of these.
Indeed, the task is one that overwhelms us all. How can we reconcile?
Caiaphas had a plan. Just let one die so that peace can prevail. It sounds so logical a utilitarian principle, like Spock’s famous line in Star Trek, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one.” It was a political peace that Caiaphas had in mind—and make no mistake, political peace would be a major accomplishment. But the fait accompli of Jesus is to accept being that One and to bring a peace that would go far beyond anything Caiaphas had in mind. It would be a peace that would reconcile us to God and to one another in a way that we could never do on our own.
The plans of evil are ever active, ever stirring in the hearts of so many. Jesus called the devil a murderer, but the murder begins with a lie—a lie about who we are, and most importantly, whose we are (John 8:44). While his critics could not see the love of God at work in Jesus, it did not mean that Jesus gave up on them. He did not give up on anyone. He does not give up on any of us. We are not consigned to the judgment of being abandoned, even though he was abandoned on the cross.
The wounds of Jesus, the wounds of his death, are borne so that murder and death do not receive the last word. Love, reconciliation, everlasting peace—these are the last word of the cross. We see the world and all of humanity cross-eyed—through the lens of the cross. That is how we hear the challenge of discipleship when it comes to our brothers and sisters.
The ministry of reconciliation, love and peace is entrusted to us; our trespasses are not counted against us because of the wounds of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Yes, we are like “clay pots” carrying out this mission, and our own foibles and failings are going to show (2 Corinthians 5:7-12). But it was and is never really about us. It is about the One who gave his life for the sake of the people—for the sake of the whole world. We come to our brothers and sisters with this gift in the clay pots of our lives—even if it wounds us; even when it kills us; but love—yes, love—will be heard over all the terrors of this world. And the wounds of Christ will be all the more visible for all to behold.
Children’s Message (to read aloud to your children)
Have any of you ever been mad or angry before? (Let the children answer) I think we all have been mad or angry in our lives, all of us here, and probably everyone else everywhere. Even Jesus sometimes got angry when people were mean to other people, but he didn’t stay angry. The Bible says, “If you do get angry, don’t let it lead you into sin” (Ephesians 4:26). When we’re angry we might start resenting people, and sometimes that can lead to even worse things like cruelty and violence. People were feeling violent thoughts about Jesus and even wanted him put to death. That’s pretty sad, isn’t it? Especially because Jesus was all about love, even for those who were his enemies. But here’s the thing. For all their anger toward him, and even their desire to have him crucified, he still loved us all. He said from the cross, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).” Love conquers anger.
Let us pray. “Father, forgive us when we are angry, and give us the love of Jesus to lead us to better children of your kingdom. Amen.”
Blessing
P May the healing presence of almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you now and always.
C Amen.