Friday 06 July 2012

Background

In the account of the life of Jesus Luke's Gospel takesparticular care to detail Jesus dealing with the marginalised ofsociety in which he finds himself. So it is not surprising thatLuke, of all the Gospel writers, should be the one to detail Jesus'conversation with the women witnessing the crucifixion. His focuson the role of Simon is also typical although not unique. Carryingone's cross was generally deemed to be part of the punishment forthose condemned to crucifixion but here Simon is conscripted tohelp Jesus instead. Simon is not mentioned in any other context inthe Gospels and it seems likely that he was a visitor in Jerusalemfor the Passover: this would explain both the reference to hiscoming in from the country and the interest that Luke has taken inhis role.

The wailing of the women at this point typify a traditionalexpression of grief in Jesus' day and they provide a sharp contrastwith the crowds who have called for Jesus' crucifixion only hoursbefore. Jesus turns their lament around however by stating thatthey should mourn for the future punishment of Jerusalem which willcome a as a result of their failure to repent. The language hererecalls Jesus' lament over the city (Luke21:23) and provides a powerful warning in response to hisviolent death at the hands of the city's rulers. In his crypticreference to the dry and green wood Jesus may well be asking thequestion: If they do this to me while I am living in the midst ofthem, what will they do when I am gone ?

 

 To Ponder

• If Jesus was alive today how do you think the media wouldrespond to him and treat him?

• What might you do differently today if Jesus was walkingthrough the today with you?