April 2: Fiery Trial
♫ Music:
Thursday, April 2
Scripture: Luke 22:63-71
Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him. They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” And they said many other things against him, blaspheming him.
When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. And they led him away to their council, and they said, “If you are the Christ, tell us.” But he said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” So they all said, “Are you the Son of God, then?” And he said to them, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips.”
FIERY TRIAL
Strike!
“My own people—my own people!”
Slash!
“I came to save them; they came to mock me, bruise me, lower me to the dust out of which We made them.”
Prophesy you fool! Prophesy!
“Oh, my Father, they know not what they do, nor who I am. Forgive them.”
Spit on this liar! Blindfold him!
“Why must I bear this, Abba? Bless them. Bless them, and open their eyes.”
Split!
Open your eyes blind man! Who’s hitting you? Tell us if you know, Oh Most High King of the Jews. Tell us if you know. Call us by name!
“Merciful Father, forgive Bartimaeus. Forgive Nathaniel. Pass over An—“
Slap!
Call us by name!
It is written:
“But now thus says the Lord,
‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.’”
Lord, you are the Holy One who was struck unjustly a thousand times in thought, word and deed, by those you created. Help us not be numb to your pain. Help us not be distant from it.
May we know the pain of the world’s rejection by our closeness to you. May we know firsthand how the world mocks us as we seek to spread your love. For it’s in the mocking and rejection that we know we are sharing in your suffering.
You say in Your Word to us: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)
And also in Your Word: “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:12-14)
“Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.” (1 John 3:13-14)
Merciful Father, grant that we may love those who hate us and revile us for associating with you. Help us to love them with a quiet love.
Prince of Peace, may we be peaceful followers of you in this hectic and hateful world.
Master Jesus, may we yearn for fresh learning from you, for it’s always available. Make us sensitive to the way you disciple us. Left to our own ways, we ruin things: our selves, our time, our resources, our money, our spouses, our friends, even our enemies. But when we submit to you, Christ, you redeem us from our foolish handling of precious things.
King of kings, take us further into yourself, and let us never be found lingering in the hands of another god.
PRAYER
Spirit of God, You call your people to patient endurance that we might not fail in time of testing, that we might not grow weary in well-doing, that we should not abandon our first love. Help us to find our constant inspiration in you that the lamp may be kept burning as we witness by your grace.
Amen.
John Johansen-Berg
Carson Leith, Alumnus, English Department
Christ Mocked by Soldiers
Georges Rouault
1932
Museum of Modern Art, New York
Oil on canvas
&
Outrage at King Jesus
Arcabas
Saint Hugos Church, Vence, France
Mixed media painting
About the Artist & Art (Piece 1)
Sometimes considered the most passionate Christian artist of the 20th century, Georges Rouault (1871 – 1958), was a Parisian painter whose work was influenced by Gustave Moreau, Henri Matisse, and Vincent van Gogh. He is associated with both Fauvism and Expressionism, though he did not properly belong to either of these groups. Trained as a stained glass painter and restorer in his teen years, Rouault’s use of heavy black outlining and glowing colors plays prominently in his paintings. Rouault was always interested in exploring the tragedy of the human condition, but after the 1910s he focused almost entirely on religious subjects. Christ Mocked by Soldiers is an example of his more mature work. Christ's pose is almost iconographic. It is highly reminiscent of the dark portraits that Rouault made of clowns, doctors, and prostitutes earlier in life.
About the Artist & Art (Piece 2)
Jean-Marie Pirot known as Arcabas (b.1926) is a contemporary French artist. He graduated from the Fine Arts School (Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts) in Paris. He has had numerous exhibitions in France as well as abroad. He has also undertaken various commissions for the French government and local authorities (mosaics, frescoes, stained-glass windows) but his major achievement is the Ensemble d'art sacré contemporain in the church of Saint Hugues de Chartreuse, begun in 1953 and completed in 1986, which has been donated to the Département de l'Isère as part of our cultural heritage. Many of Arcabas’ works have been inspired by the Bible.
About the Music
I Cannot Watch Them lyrics
Narrator:
And Peter remembered the words of Jesus. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Peter:
What have I done? Denied Him?
What have I done?
So now am I no different from the men
Who take Thy bread then turn again?
Oh... What have I done? What have I done?
I hear their filthy tongues, their vicious scorn.
The lies they spin with Satan's yarn.
| watch them spit and strike Thy face,
They mock Thy name in foul disgrace.
And when Thou lookest for a friend,
Thou findest none, for I have fled!
Oh God! What have I done?
As Thou hast taken stripes for me,
Could I not take but one for Thee?
I cannot watch them take my Lord.
I can't endure their cruel hands upon Him.
While His own hands are tied with cord.
Those hands with pow'r to raise the dead,
Command the storm, now bound instead, and
I cannot hear them mock His name.
I cannot bear their foul breath upon Him.
I dare not look upon His face
And see the very Son of God,
His brow so bruised and stained with blood
His eyes that shed my sorrow's tears,
And watch as all hope disappears,
I will not watch them crucify my Lord!
For I know this Man!
I know Him! I know this Man!
I cannot watch what He must bear.
For surely He must carry all my burden.
Forgive me, Lord, that I'm not there...
But, when my eyes have closed in death,
These words will hang on my last breath:
I know Him.
About the Composer & Performers
Rob Gardner is a contemporary composer. He has been playing instruments and singing since he was young. Gardener began writing music while at university. He writes both sacred music and secular music, including film scores and musicals. Gardner is the president of Spire Music, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to encourage the composition of new works by creating opportunities for their performance.”
The London Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1904, is London’s oldest symphony orchestra. They have been recording albums since 1912, including more than 200 film soundtracks.