Easter Prep

“In holy week, it is Jesus who, in taking on our humanity, must also take on the darkest hours of isolation and desolation.  In his life, they are fully assumed so we can be fully redeemed” (2017 bible notes)

The gospels all record the “isolation” and “desolation” of Christ – in various ways – full of last meal longing for company with his friends at supper, humanly craving company and support in his garden vigil, and it occurs to me that for many of the incidents surrounding his trials he must have told the disciples himself.  There weren’t eye witnesses when alone, bound, he stood before the high priest – even Peter and John didn’t get that far.  Bustled and hustled to Herod, back again to Pilate for an audience.  All alone.  God in glory but as a man I bet he experienced all the human “fight or flight” hormones flooding his body – to react one way or another.  But he didn’t – he stood there, humbly and soaked up the punishment. 

The humiliation of that hideous flogging.  Stripped naked and ridiculed by a bored battalion of young men used to administering casual brutality in the name of the state and Roman peace.  I wonder how Jesus told that story to his friends the other side of his resurrection victory.

At least, at the cross, at his lowest, he had the company of those who truly loved him.  Whom he loved.  His mum and other women, John his mum’s substitute son – they saw it through.  I simply cannot imagine having to watch something as horrific as that and to stand there as the only contribution you can make.  What huge courage that took.

Somehow 12 weeks isolation doesn’t seem such a big ask.  It is still a big ask, just not an impossible one. I know he can redeem it.  If only to make me slow down, to gratefully accept help, to be a cheery friend, daughter and neighbour. To rebalance my life and make it a bit more sane.