John 19:16b-22
A young boy, Laurie, who comes home from kindergarten every day telling his parents about a "bad" classmate named Charles. Charles disrupts class, acts “fresh,” hits the teacher, clearly doing abhorrent behavior. In the end, the parents discover there is no Charles in the class. It was their son misbehaving the whole time. ("Charles" by Shirley Jackson, published in 1948)
Like the story above, see if you can catch the unwitting irony in John’s Gospel.
“Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross by himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” John 19:16b-22 (NRSVUE)
In John’s version of the story, the Jewish officials want Jesus dead for claiming to be the king of the Jews. (Although that claim was not blasphemy nor did it warrant the death penalty according to Jewish law.) In the end, to the dismay of the Jewish officials, the sign on the cross read, “The King of the Jews.” The very proclamation that the Jewish officials are trying to snuff out is proclaimed to the entire world in three languages! Now that’s ironic.
This twist mirrors life's unexpected turns. Moments we initially view as mistakes or misfortunes can, in hindsight, become pivotal, transformative events. While this doesn't diminish the pain felt at the time, we often cannot foresee how a tragic event might ultimately be used for a greater good. In the monumental trauma of Jesus's crucifixion, this pivotal event became a surging wave of God's universal love. God's presence in the world, despite human actions, is the ultimate, wonderful irony. Our role is simply to trust and strive to use the circumstances we are dealt for the better.
Questions for Reflection:
- In difficult moments, where or who might you go to for support? What are the characteristics of that person?
- Looking back, what pivotal moments were important to you? Going deeper, ask someone else that question.
Prayer:
God of peace, surpassing all understanding, renew our spirits daily, especially when we face difficulties. Guide us to look to you, to give our best effort, and to entrust the rest to your loving care. Restore our hope for the future. Amen.
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