Sermon delivered on Good Friday, April 3, 2015, at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, Columbus, OH.

If you prefer to listen to the audio podcast of this sermon, click here.

Lectionary texts: Isaiah 52.13-53.12; Psalm 22.1-31; Hebrews 4.14-16, 5.7-9; John 18.1-19.42.

In the name of God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

It is at about the half-way point in the reading of the Passion that we encounter a dialog between Pilate and Jesus. Pilate begins by asking Jesus if he is a King. Jesus responds “you say that I am a King . For this I as born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belong to the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate then makes the statement, perhaps even asking, What is the Truth? No response from Jesus is recorded. Pilate immediately goes out and tries to convince the people that Jesus should be set free. We can only wonder what caused such a reaction on Pilate’s part.

Almost all of you know that I make my living as an attorney. Despite that bad public image often portrayed, it is a profession, that deeply values getting down to the truth. We seek it in our clients, we expect it from our fellow attorneys, it is the standard that the Court system upholds as an ideal. Failure to be truthful is often subject to various and sometimes very severe penalties. None-the-less it does not take very long for the newly admitted lawyer, to realize that the truth is often very difficult to find, very difficult to determine and very difficult at times to share. Our clients tell us their stories, they tell us their version of the truth, and while some willingly lie, this is the rarity, rather most share their version of the truth drawn from their individual perspective. As lawyers, we must initially at least, except these versions of the facts as the truth; however, as time passes we hear the other sides version of the truth, it is not unusual for very different picture to develop.

As I read the Passion narrative, I am struck by the fact that we have a number of actors who all believe that they are the ones who possess the truth. First of these in my mind, would be Peter. He knew that he would always be the courageous one who would stand by his Lord and never deny Him. He knew that he was willing to die for Jesus if needed and in fact, when the time of Jesus’ arrest came, it was probably Peter at some considerable risk who drew his sword and cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. Yet it is the same Peter, who would find out the truth of how weak his faith was, when he denies even knowing the Lord three times before the Cock crows.

It is hard to figure out what Judas believed to be the truth. There are many stories of his dishonesty or lack of honest faith, but these are stories that are more legend than biblical accounts. It is probably honest to say the Judas, like most of the Jewish community of that time, knew in their hearts that the truth was that the Messiah would come and be a military hero and free the people from foreign domination. His truth did not match well with the Jesus who patterned himself after the suffering servant of Isaiah. Judas’ truth made it easy for him to betray the Lord for to Judas, Jesus had betrayed his truth of who the Messiah was to be.

The High Priests had their truth. It was that Jesus was a phony. Jesus would by his claims cause the Roman authorities to bring destruction and death to the Jewish people. It was justifiable that one man would die for the nation. No doubt some of this truth was very self-serving allowing the religious elect to exercise their special and privileged role, but at least for some, these truths were no doubt genuinely believed.

Pilate also had his truth. He believed himself to be a powerful king with power over life and death. Yet in the end, he could not even face down the shouts of an angry mob to preserve the life of one whom he knew was innocent.

There were the disciples who had believed in Jesus and expected that in some manner he would bring about a great restoration – perhaps political, but definitely religious. Following our Lord’s crucifixion they were devastated and in despair. For these faithful ones, the truth was that the center of their lives had been taken away and there hope destroyed. Their truth was that they felt alone, scared and bewildered.

What then is truth for us? Do we like Peter believe in our hearts that should it be necessary that we are willing to die for our Lord. Fortunately we live in the Untied States in a place and time where while our values may be challenged at every hand still our lives are not at risk and yet in many places of the world, there are those who are called to give their lives for Jesus. Let us hope and pray that we may never have to see how real that truth is for us. Yet even in our daily living, the Lord asks us to die to ourselves in many smaller ways that we may be more like him. Do we embrace that truth? Is our truth more like that of Judas?

Do we crave for a mighty God, perhaps even a warrior God, who will come with his armies and straighten up this crooked and falling world. Yet the Lord does not come in such a manner, but rather comes in quiet ways, through his people, who are willing to come as suffering servants who are willing to experience suffering and criticism to lessen the burdens of all God’s people not just those with whom we agree but those who condemn us as well. If God does not seem to be acting powerfully in our world or in our lives, are we like Judas, when the times comes willing to betray our Lord by accepting the values of this world.

Tonight we join with the disciples at the foot of the Cross. We see in a symbolic way the terrible death upon that tree. As the evening goes on and we wait through the day on Holy Saturday in somber remembrance, we wait with quiet and reflection, but here we differ from the first disciples, for we also wait with expectation and hope, for we are waiting for a celebration – thee celebration for Christians – the annual remembrance of Christ being raised from the tomb and forever breaking death’s hold over us. Because of the Cross, we need not fear the future, we known that Jesus has only been taken away from us for awhile, that in our coming celebration of the Resurrection, we are assured that he is with us still today and that his gift of the Holy Spirit can and will sustain us during even our darkest hours. This then becomes part of who we are; it becomes at least part of our truth.

Jesus through his life and teachings revealed may truths: that God can be best understood as Father. That we must see our neighbor as the one who is in need. That giving is not measured by the amount but by the intention and sacrifice of the heart. That love of God and love of neighbor are the two great commandments. That God does not so much ask for external sacrifices, but desires mostly broken and open hearts willing to be healed and filled. That we prodigal children will always be welcomed home in the Father’s love. That we must receive God’s gift of faith in the way of little children.

That God can be worshipped anywhere and anytime. That leaders are call to be servants. That with enough faith we can move mountains. That water can be turned to wine, but more importantly that sinners can and are being turned into saints.

Why is it that Jesus is able to reveal these truths and many more? It is because that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. It is only through Jesus and his great sacrifice that we can find our way to the Father. It is only through Jesus, the true suffering servant of Isaiah, that though being despised by men, that we can see the way the Father has compassion for all of his creation. It is through the way Jesus lived his life that we can see what our lives should be like. Jesus is the Light as he reflects the glory of God Almighty. Jesus is the light as he brings hope into a hopeless world. Jesus is the Light as he reveals the Father’s plan for our lives.

Jesus does not just teach truths. Jesus does not just speak truthfully. Rather Jesus is the Truth for he is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, of all that is and will be. Jesus is the very Word of the Father spoken in human form. No greater Truth can be spoken.

In the name of God: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.