Experience Easter: Joining Jesus’ JourneyНамуна

There were many faces surrounding Jesus as He was nailed to the cross, and this painting illustrates what Jesus may have seen as He lay on His back, looking up from ground. Can you feel the vulnerability, the powerlessness, the intimidation of being crowded over? Jesus must have seen a lot in the faces of those around Him. What emotions and expressions do you notice as you look around that circle?

The biggest person pictured is the soldier holding the hammer, but we don’t see his face. His head is down, and his hammer is lifted. Without a face, this soldier could be anyone. He could be me, or you. A reminder that it was not one, but many, that put Jesus on the Cross. 

At the centre of the painting, is the sun in eclipse. One gets the feeling that even though Jesus was surrounded by faces, the sky's the focus. Could He feel the darkness closing in? Was the Son disappearing? Was He thinking about His Father, the Creator of the Universe? It almost looks as though the dark round entrance of the tomb is before Him.

Perhaps as Jesus looked at the eclipse, He was reminding himself that the darkness eventually passes; the light will return, and that the sun will rise again. 

Imagine yourself where Jesus lay. 

Jesus was, quite literally, being looked down on. Not only were they shouting abuse, mocking and laughing, but He was physically in a place of humiliation. Not only about to die, but about to die in the company of criminals. In the faces of the robed religious leaders, we see superiority and judgement. 

When was the last time you felt humiliated or judged by someone, who was looking down on you? Remind yourself that Jesus knows how this feels.

Amongst those faces are people turning away. We often avoid making eye contact with someone we feel sorry for, maybe even disgusted by. Perhaps a sick person, or poor person, or helpless person. Is it despair or disgust? Is it sorrow or shame? Perhaps you know what it's like to be avoided. Perhaps you can think about the type of person that you are disgusted by, or feel superior to?

Consider them now, and that Jesus was once in that place.

As Jesus lay there, these were some of the last faces He saw before He died. Not His friends, who loved Him. Not those who He had healed, who worshipped Him. When Jesus died, He died for everyone - including all these people looking down on Him.

How does it feel to realise that Jesus’ greatest act of love was looking into the least loveable faces?

Prayer:

Jesus, it’s amazing to consider that Your love was great enough to be given to those who deserved it least. I can barely love the people closest to me or the good people in my life with the kind of love You showed for those who stood around You at the cross. When I am faced with unlovable people, please remind me of this example that You showed. Fill me with the same sense of forgiveness that You had, and help me to see that every human is an image-bearer of God - even those who mock me, judge me or ignore me. Thank You for Your grace.

Amen.