No Bystanders

Some might think that it would be possible merely to be a bystander during these momentous days, at the events of the crucifixion, resurrection, and Pentecost

not to get involved,

just to watch, to observe the spectacle of all of these things and make up one's mind at leisure.

Why would we rather be bystanders about Jesus?

There are some with only a mild intellectual curiosity about Jesus.

Like the young man who came asking questions,

but who went away sorrowful

when he found that following Jesus

was going to be costly to his prideful independence.

Jesus will answer questions, but more than that, he asks deep and probing questions of those who come to him.

And people sooner or later discover that there is not much room to be a bystander around Jesus.

Such people usually get bored quickly and move on to something else.

But those who are willing to wrestle with the big questions with Jesus... what a lively engagement it is!

Some stood at the edge of the crowd when the cries of “crucify him” began to swell.

Unless the spoke something different, they would be counted with those who demand the death of Jesus!

There are no innocent bystanders:

either one confesses one's faith in Jesus or one is a part of the group that is complicit in his death.

And sorrowfully, we must admit today that we are part of that group.

By what we have said and done, and by what we have not said and done this day and every day,

we have been trying to be bystanders who have fallen off the fence

into being outsiders.

We sang it a bit ago:

Who was the guilty?

Who brought this upon thee?

Alas, my treason, Jesus hath undone thee.

'Twas I Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee,

I crucified thee.

That is just the situation.

We're not innocent bystanders.

There are no such persons.

Pilate tried also to be a bystander, and failed.

He condemned Jesus out of personal weakness and political expedience, and then tried to distance himself from any blame.

“Here's your King,” he says.

It won't work:

his attempt to be a bystander only confirms his place as an outsider.

Our Lord Jesus is a among us to change this whole situation.

Any who will listen to him

he declares to be no longer “outsiders” but instead are his beloved.

Why, oh why do we keep saying that we would like to be going our own way, to be a casual observer of Jesus, showing curiosity without commitment?

May our prayer on this day be that our Lord will not allow us to drift off and remain outsiders,

and will instead reach us, open our eyes to the sober truth about ourselves as we contemplate his Passion,

remind us that we are his own in Holy Baptism,

and show us again that he restores us

to the community that was shattered when Adam and Eve went their own way.

There is profound Good News today.

The cross, from which we would flee

because of our guilt...

...yes, this very place where we would try most desperately to be only a bystander

is become the place where we are drawn in awe and wonder.

For he tells us

“In spite of what you have done,

you are still my beloved. “ Amen.

PRAYER

Lord, we cannot be bystanders.

Don't allow us to remain outsiders.

Instead, bring us inside the circle of your love,

for the sake of Jesus our crucified Lord and Savior. Amen.

Please note: The preceding sermon is provided as a resource for the thought, prayer, and meditation of the members and friends of St. Mark's. It is the residue of a verbal event, and thus it does not have academic footnotes and other details that would be expected in a written document. The writer gladly acknowledges the prior thought and work of many Christians before him.