Compelling Fears

Pilate spoke to them again, ‘Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?’ They shouted back, ‘Crucify him!’ Pilate asked them, ‘Why, what evil has he done?’ But they shouted all the more, ‘Crucify him!’ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Mark 15:12-21

This week, lots of people are going back to work and school, whether they want to or not. As kids, we are terrified that the kids won't like us, that we're not cool or smart enough, or we won't make friends. Adults face the same wrenching fears in new situations and new seasons. We don't want to fail or be despised. We don't want to fall, to fail, or to be turned away.

Jesus, the healer, the forgiver, the teacher of love and compassion, was despised. He was the best at goodness, and yet the world despised him, beat him, tortured him and killed him while people watched helplessly. Too often, the world seems to turn on the sweetest and kindest among us. Yet we are invited by God to know that when the worst fears overwhelm us, when folks despise us and are so creul, we can know we are not alone. Jesus carried all this as well, and promised life beyond the evil days and wicked people, beyond our failures and our rejections.

Today, I ask God to give me an extra measure of grace and compassion to remember that many folks today are facing awful times and circumstances. May we all remember to help carry others' burdens, since we know that they too walk with God.