Good Friday Devotion QT
(Day 6: March 30)
Watchers, Weepers and Wonderers
A Good Friday Devotion
Luke 23:26-43
“As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.” (Luke 23:26-27 NIV)
As we read the Gospel narratives, it seems like everywhere Jesus traveled, a crowd followed. The Bible repeatedly speaks of the “multitude.” This perpetual following illuminates the impact that the ministry of Jesus had on the people of that day. In this particular passage, there were three distinct sets of people in the crowd: the watchers, the weepers and the wonderers. The watchers stood waiting for something to happen. This was probably the majority of the crowd. Standing by as this man who is rumored to be the King of the Jews is tortured and hung. Watching others weep and mock. Watching, yet silent. Watching in the face of unspeakable injustice as an innocent man is hung alongside two criminals. The weepers were the faithful women who followed Jesus. These “daughters of Jerusalem” mourned and wailed over the fate of Jesus. In the midst of unimaginable suffering, Jesus pauses to speak to these women. However, he doesn’t speak words of comfort or assurance.
In fact, Jesus’ words echo as a rebuke and warning. “Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, “Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!” Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?’” (Luke 23:28-31, NIV). The wonderers are those who doubt. If he was who he said he was, why didn’t he do something? Their doubt turned into taunts, and they began sneering and mocking. These disbelieving wonderers are not to be demonized. After all, Jesus could have done something miraculous in that moment to silence the naysayers. He could have continued performing miracles as he endured the agony of torture. He could have summoned angels to defend him. He could have appeased the wonderers with a show to end all shows. But he did not. What Jesus did contradicted every notion of messianic or kingly behavior.
His response to the watchers, weepers and wonderers is the same response he gives to us today. The reality is that each of us, at some point in our lives, has been one of these people in the crowd. We’ve watched in silence as injustice reigns around us. We’ve wept out of our selfishness, not looking at the bigger picture. We’ve allowed our wondering to creep into doubt and cynicism. But Jesus responds the same way, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23: 34, NKJV). Forgiveness is his response. Not righteous indignation, not defensive posturing, not insincere condolences. Jesus forgave them ALL!
May God grant each of us the grace to offer the same response to the watchers, weepers and wonderers in our lives.
(Rev. Michelle D. Williams. Ph.D)
