Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 30 March 2025
Jesus - the Outsider
Scripture References: Matthew 26:36-56, Psalms 104:24-35, Hebrews 4:14-16
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CloseMatthew has employed the super slo-mo camera in his account of the last two days of Jesus’ life. He has slowed all the events right down, so that we can grasp the details. The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. The one who came to save the outsiders can only do this by becoming THE outsider. And we cannot miss how incredibly alone, and ‘outside’, Jesus is in these moments. He prays alone. He resists alone. He stands firm alone. All the disciples abandon him. All the religious authorities are arrayed against him. And, yet, his authority remains undiminished – all the events happen according to the word of God, and nothing happens without Jesus’ explicit approval. Jesus is the Son of Man, who is the outsider, so that the sinners who abandon him can proclaim him, and the sinners who kill him can be forgiven by him.
Scripture References: Matthew 26:36-56, Psalms 104:24-35, Hebrews 4:14-16
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As dawn breaks on Sunday morning, women go to view the tomb…but what they see is far greater. An angel announces.. “He is not here. For he has risen..” What wonderful, good news! Some in our passage are gripped with fear, still others are shocked, displaying unexpected joy. But should we be surprised? Isn’t this what Jesus was saying all along? As we come to Easter, as we come to Jesus, be expectant that Jesus will do all he says. We can have complete confidence that what Jesus says.. Jesus does! “He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come see the place where he lay”. Death is defeated, the tomb is empty, and for those who trust in Jesus we have the promise of life after death because Jesus has gone before us. Celebrate today that God is faithful and that Jesus now reigns!
The events of Good Friday have significant impact. Jesus, the outsider deals with sin in the only way possible. It involves an excruciating death, burial and is final. There are insults and mockery, confusion and speculation abound. Jesus, the outsider has left His mark.
In today’s passage it’s Good Friday, the saddest day in human history. But hidden amongst the lies and deception and betrayal are glimmers of hope. The great African American preacher S.M. Lockridge wrote a reflection on this time in Holy week. Here’s what he has to say in part, “It’s Thursday, and Jesus is praying. Peter is sleeping, Judas is betraying, but Sunday’s coming. It’s Friday, Pilate’s struggling. The council is conspiring, the crowd is vilifying. They don’t even know that Sunday’s coming. It’s Friday, the disciples are running like sheep without a shepherd. Peter is denying, Mary is crying, but they don’t know that Sunday’s a coming. It’s Friday. The Romans beat my Jesus. They robe him in Scarlet, they crown him with thorns, but they don’t know that Sunday’s coming. It’s Friday, see Jesus walking to Calvary, his blood dripping, his body stumbling and his spirit burdened. It’s Friday, only Friday, but let me tell you something: Sunday’s a coming!” The Son of Man is more ‘outside’ than ever before. Betrayed, rejected, beaten and handed over to be crucified. Majestically silent, confident in his father’s plans. So much more than just a king of the Jews, he’s King of all Kings.
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