The Rock

What to say!  In our reading today (John 18:12-27) everything is falling apart. Desertions abound, denials triple, the Lord of Creation is tied up like a criminal, and the good friend huddles by a fire thinking of self-preservation. In this disaster fear is toppling the most committed and hatred seems to rule. But in the middle of this storm of evil is a Rock - immoveable, unshakeable, so full of grace and peace that His captors really don't know what to do with Him.

It began in the garden when the soldiers and officers confronted Him, He said His name, and they fell flat. Now the head religious guy is wanting answers, and Jesus calmly suggests a better method of securing truth. The nearby officer blows up and hits Jesus. Jesus' response is so pure and grace-filled that it seems childlike: "If I have spoken wrongly," Jesus answered him, "give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit Me?"  Then it becomes clear that Jesus' captors really don't know what to do with Him and so begin a train of shuffling Him back and forth among rulers until one finally hands Him over to the mob's demands.

As this serene, fearless, full of grace Man moves through the most unthinkable travesty that will ever be, He gives us a place, a person that we can cling to, stand on, no matter what happens to us.

Jesus is the rock.
Lord help us remember.