Daily Devotion for Lent 2018 - Day 40, Holy Saturday

Scripture Reading: Genesis 49 (NRSV)

Jacob dies in the way many people would like to go.  He is surrounded by his family and is able to speak to each of them before passing.  He is long-lived and successful.  He retains his mental faculties to the end.  He dies peacefully in his bed.  I wouldn't mind this as an ending to my life!

Death may allow us to contemplate 

who we are in this world and what impact

we will leave.

But there are also parts of this story that I would omit for my final breath.  Jacob has a different word for each of his sons.  These blessings are like a prophesy and some (Judah and Joseph) are better than others (Reuben and Issachar).  In fact, Simeon and Levi are actually cursed by their father.  Many scholars believe that this text came to its final form from redactors or editors within the southern kingdom of Judah.  This would make one wonder if these final words from Jacob were touched up in light of history rather than projected into the future.  Certainly, it is interesting that Judah shines pretty brightly!  I do find it fascinating that Levi comes across so poorly since he represented the priestly line.  Priests and the Temple in Jerusalem would likely have been active during this final draft.

The Gospels don't contain any report about Jesus having any friendly relations among the priests.  Even though modern ears may think more quickly of the enemies of Jesus as the Pharisees, Jesus actually did have some friends among them such as Nicodemus.  We hear of what Jesus thought of the priests in the parable of the Good Samaritan.  It was the priest that is more concerned about his ritual purity than he is about helping someone in their hour of need.

Jesus causes a commotion outside the Temple when he drives out the moneychangers.

The Gospels report that it was the chief priests that conspired to kill him.  They had the resources to have him arrested.  The Pharisees had no authority to do this.

Matthew 26:62-68 reminds us of the priestly role in the death of Jesus:

The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?”  But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”  Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you,

From now on you will see the Son of Man
    seated at the right hand of Power
    and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah!  Who is it that struck you?”

On this Holy Saturday as we remember his burial, it is helpful for us to recognize that the establishment can easily become the persecutor.  As an ordained pastor, this is a sobering passage to read.  May God forgive us when our sense of righteousness leads us to injure another in order to "protect" God's sense of honor.

Lord God,

in our prayers for our country as we remember especially 

the men and women who powerfully influence the life of society:

   those who fashion our politics,

   those who frame and administer our laws,

   those who mold public opinion through the press, radio and television,

   those who write what many read.

May all such recognize their responsibility to you and to the nation, 

that people may be influenced for what is good, not evil;

for what is true, not false;

for the glory of your name.

Amen.

Prayer by Frank Colquhoun, priest, Church of England, 20th Century

Photo by SLR Jester via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons license.