Good Friday: Honesty in Society
Sermon by the Revd Dr Brutus Green
Imagine a Ukrainian soldier driving a tank to the outskirts of say Mariupol. She meets a Russian soldier coming in the opposite direction. Both are very likely Christian. Both may have attended a Maundy Thursday service led by their chaplain, (I have already read of the death of at least one Ukrainian chaplain) Both heard the commandment to love one another. Today they meet on Good Friday in the heat of battle.
On Maundy Thursday we considered how in washing the disciples’ feet, Jesus turns the normal pyramid of human society upside down. That as power, wealth, status narrow as we rise up through society to a single point, Jesus, at the pinnacle, Immanuel – God with us, chooses instead to take the form of a slave and perform the lowest function. Jesus therefore commands greater honesty in our relationships and asks that we become abseilers rather than social climbers. His is the business of turning pyramids around.
On Good Friday, this becomes a demonstration against our public life. Jesus refuses to engage in power struggle – to argue before Herod and Pilate. Jesus is turned into a public spectacle, but he remains with those at the very bottom of the pyramid. It is, if you like, a public demonstration, that God is not to be found in power, wealth and status, but in the absence of these things. God is found at the point of need and compassion, in the fragility of being human.
For St John, the account is very visual. The title of many works of art, “Ecce Homo” – behold – the man! And this is after Pilate has dressed him up to look ridiculous – a parody of a king. How did people react? Do the Jews think Pilate was mocking the idea of a Jewish king? They are forced into the awkward and embarrassing confession ‘we have no king but Caesar’. Was Pilate deliberately making Jesus look ridiculous in a last ditched effort to have him released? But Jesus is the king of the Jews, as the board on his cross will say in all languages – Hebrew and Latin and Greek.
So the situation is ironic. Half the people are pretending Jesus is a king, but not theirs; Half are claiming they have no king but Caesar. And there is the man – a king, but not as we know it. But it’s not ironic – true kingship is found here: in poverty, suffering and humility. The crown of thorns is the truest, most royal crown of all – Because divine majesty is the service of all – The highest point on the pyramid in the lowest place at the base.
With regard to friendship, Jesus, in washing feet, in giving the New Commandment to love one another, requires a new honesty. That friendship should not be about securing or advancing our place in the pyramid. And on Maundy Thursday we saw dishonest friendship fail: Judas puts money before friendship. Peter won’t risk anything for friendship. The disciples scatter when they come under threat. Only Jesus remains true.
On Good Friday we see how honesty fairs in public life. Herod, historically, was infamous as an opportunistic leader. He didn’t have the backing of the religious authorities, and wasn’t popular. Jesus is a threat to his insecure position; Herod uses him to make friends with Pilate. Herod has, of course, already had John the Baptist killed on the whim of his wife. We shouldn’t expect honesty or integrity here.
Pilate, I feel, has a sort of impotent tragic feel to him. He knows what the right thing to do is. He understands that the Jewish leaders are acting out of jealousy. But again he makes justice subservient to expedience. He puts the politics of keeping the people with power happy, before the truth of the case before him. ‘What is truth?’ he feebly asks. As for the Jewish authorities, they have no interest in truth. They will lie and kill to protect their position. And disappointingly the crowds are easily led and shift all too quickly from welcoming Christ to calling for his death.
Truth in public life has come a long way. But it’s not unheard of to see expedience come before truth; Both here and abroad we are not free of corruption, Or of decisions being made that end lives and create huge unhappiness for thousands. Just as Jesus calls us personally to develop honesty in our friendships, so he calls us to build a more honest and fair society. Or if that proves impossible, at least to pray for it; And to pray for the individuals who for the sake of honesty and justice fall foul of the power of crowds or politics. Perhaps today two Christian tank commanders will end up engaging in Ukraine. That is a tragedy. The cause remains the Herods, Pilates and authorities of our day. Until the reign of Christ, truth, and with it justice and mercy, will always be in the hands of corruptible, fallible people. The Passion reminds us of our need for transformation, prayer and vigilance. Amen.