Friday, March 30

Respect for a King

Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.

This story in John shows much more action between Jesus’ death and resurrection than in the other gospels. It mirrors the theme woven throughout the gospel of John, that Jesus was not the only person acting to make change in the world. Jesus gathered, taught, and equipped his disciples to carry on his work – work that we continue to do today.

Here we see the tenderness of his followers who have loved him so dearly. They could not stand to see Jesus left on the cross or discarded as garbage, despite the horrific and humiliating nature of his death. They took his body, prepared it according to custom, and placed him in a tomb where no one else had ever been laid. To them, Jesus was still their king, and they treated him with the respect a king deserves. While we wait for the turning of this story, we can pause to give Jesus the respect a king deserves.

Narrative Lectionary Text: John 19:31-37

Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”