Jesus Christ certainly did not simply stumble into his final agony and wretched death. Nor was his betrayal by Judas, his abandonment by his disciples, his rejection by the Jewish authorities and his humiliation before the Gentiles simply an unfortunate turn of events. And happily the glorious return of Christ from the grave was likewise no afterthought. God the Father in his quite mysterious providence reasoned that the passion, death and resurrection of his Divine Son were the most effective and the most instructive measures through which to reveal to mankind the dreadful evil of sin and the intensity of God’s love.
The Gospel accounts according to Saints Matthew, Mark and Luke each recount three detailed predictions by Jesus himself that rejection and death were his inevitable destiny but also that, after a brief three days, the “Son of Man” would rise afresh to a glorified life. Consider St. Mark’s versions of the triple forecast, this one of which will be proclaimed this coming Sunday: “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days (Mk. 8:31).” Next, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise (Mk. 9:31).” Then, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise (Mk. 10:33-34).”
The Gospel writer certainly wants to convey the willingness, the determination, and the square resolve of Jesus to face intense evil. In the same manner, the author also wants the believer to know that God rewarded Jesus with renewed life for not flinching in the face of evil. The Son of Man sadly “must suffer” but he will happily “rise after three days.” Valor leads to victory.
Now victory through victimhood was and is a tough message. In the first instance a shocked St. Peter “began to rebuke him.” The second time the disciples are “afraid to ask him about it.” The third time a clueless Ss. John and James ask to be seated next to him “in his glory.” So confronting and enduring evil as the Divine path to redemption and glorification is not an easy message to grasp, let alone experience.
Even though the Way of the Cross as the road to salvation is thrice resisted by the disciples, Jesus does not hesitate. The Master clearly and boldly lets them know that his followers then and his followers now can expect nothing different. Suffering and death is the unique path to glory and eternity. Hence Jesus, after the first prediction, famously and tersely insists, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” With equal brevity and with the same clout, Jesus asserts after the second forecast, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” And the final response to the disciples’ disbelief reads, “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Few believers among the Christian faithful will be led up Calvary’s slope to die as a martyr. Most followers of Christ are tested by living the Gospel message in a challenging worldly environment. The secularity and sensuality of Western culture today is clearly the Cross that is laid on every believer’s shoulder. But today’s unbelief and carnality are not simply stumbling blocks for the faithful to avoid. The Master would understand that these challenges are opportunities for each believer to become “the servant of all.” The vocation of every Christian is not “to be served” but rather “to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Unremitting service by every believer in spreading the Gospel message is the ransom demanded if today’s world is ever to be liberated from its Godless mindset and lustful fixations.
The authentic Christian life today might not have the drama of Holy Week. But the authentic Christian life today will still be a life of submission, sacrifice, and service assuredly leading to salvation.
