Look at the cross! See what we do. Look at the cross!
Jesus who had a passion, the passion for God’s will and His people, is crucified, betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, in the end deserted by every one of his followers. Even the faithful women can only watch helplessly from a distance.
Jesus seemed to be afraid of all. A very human Jesus fell prostate in deep distress. Three times he begged God to let the cup pass him by; three times his pleas were met with silence. All he could do was rely on his previous experiences of God’s faithful love. Not knowing how God would bring the divine will for life and love to fullness through his brutal execution, Jesus chose to remain in trust. As the Sanhedrin and Pilate interrogated Jesus, he remained silent like the Suffering Servant in the prophet Isaiah. After such a long agony, finally he opened his mouth, crying out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
It had been done in a way many wanted—the chief priests and the scribes who wanted to kill him. Their mission was completed. And where are you? Where are standing, looking at Jesus? The terrible cross would tell who we are.