Remembering the Story:

A Devotional Guide for Holy Week--2013

Friday:  Crucifixion; Place and Time

Sing:    Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

            Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

            Oh!—sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.

            Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?

“Were You There,” verse 2.  Afro-American Spiritual.  Hymn No. 288 in The United Methodist Hymnal.

Read:   Luke 23:26-49

Reflect on the Biblical Story:

He was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.  We don’t know much about Simon; Luke tells us only that Simon of Cyrene was coming from the country (Cyrene was a Roman colony in Northern Africa).  It is possible that Simon was visiting Jerusalem for the Passover.  For whatever reason, his path intersected the march from Pilate’s Court to the place of execution, and Simon was pressed into service.  There is no indication that Simon had a choice in the matter.  He was chosen, and he complied, thus becoming the first one to embody in a literal sense the words that Jesus had spoken earlier, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).  We hear nothing more of Simon.  Did he continue to take up his cross daily?

The two thieves were caught in the wrong place at the wrong time, as well.  They were criminals and they got caught.  There seems to be no question of due process, no dispute over their guilt or innocence.  In fact, one of the thieves confesses that they had been “condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds” (Luke 23:41).  Jesus replied to this second thief that he would end up in the right place—“today you will be with me in Paradise.”

The centurion seems to be out of place, for he seems to be to be far too spiritual for his job.  He was a Roman soldier; he simply was following orders.  Undoubtedly, he had carried out executions before; undoubtedly, he would carry them out again in the future.  How ironic it is that this hardened soldier would be the one, upon seeing Jesus breathe his last, to “praise God” and proclaim that “certainly this man was innocent” (Luke 23:47).

All Jesus’ acquaintances—his disciples and friends, and all the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee—they seemed to be in the wrong place, as well.  Those whom Jesus had urged the night before to “pray that [they] may not come into the time of trial” (Luke 22:46) stood watch safely, from a distance (Luke 23:49).

All of these witnesses to God’s greatest act of love were at the wrong place and at the wrong time.  Where were you?  Where are you now?

Reflect on Your Story:

1.      When have you been caught in the wrong place and at the wrong time?  What led you to be there?  How did you respond?  Did the event lead to punishment or paradise?

2.      Simon did not voluntarily pick up the cross; he could have resisted, but it might have cost him his life.  There may be some irony in that by carrying the instrument of death, Simon saved his own life—a twist on the word of Jesus, who said, “those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24).  Can you remember a time when have you taken up a cross and followed Jesus?  Did that event help you to save or to lose your life?  In what way?

3.      Jesus’ friends watched from a distance.  Can you recall times when God seemed distant?  Can you recall times when God seemed close at hand? 

4.      Mark’s Gospel recalls the words spoken by the centurion slightly differently:  “Truly this man was God’s Son!” (Mark 15:39).  Have you had experiences in your life that brought you to the same conclusion?  What difference has this made in your life?

Sing:    What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

what wondrous love is this, O my soul! 

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

“What Wondrous Love Is This”, verse 1—USA Folk Hymn.  Hymn No. 292 in The United Methodist Hymnal.

Pray:    “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).  Amen.