Entering into Jesus’ Passion
Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our annual communal journey to the heart of our faith—to Jerusalem, the cross, and the empty tomb—has begun. It is but one chapter in a journey, but a chapter that we intentionally revisit every year. All of it is an attempt, all be it imperfect and incomplete, to get to the very heart of the story.
One component of these stories that has received attention as of late, is the treatment of “the Jews” in the Passion narrative, and especially John’s Gospel. This language is not new, but we have grown more aware of how problematic it is because of violence that has been directed towards our brothers and sisters of the Jewish faith. While this deserves much more in depth conversation, parishioner and Vestry member, Vicki Barnett, has shared a valuable resource that I am hopeful you will explore.
The Christian Scholars Group on Christian-Jewish Relations, of which Vicki is a part, has created a series of educational videos, Presenting the Passion without blaming “the Jews”. The purpose is described as such, “Jesus’ Passion—arrested, sentenced to death, crucified—is retold through readings in Christian services during Holy Week. Tragically, over the centuries, these retellings have caused enmity between Christians and Jews and have even led to murderous violence. Such sinful consequences are contrary to the Good News of Christ. In this series, members of the Christian Scholars Group on Christian–Jewish Relations, along with two Jewish advisors, explore four scenes in the Passion story. Based on decades of research, they consider how Jesus’ Passion can be presented in fresh ways that repudiate anti-Jewish biases and illuminate the gospel message.” I commend to you the segment on the Jewish Crowd, Pilate, and Guilt, in which Vicki is featured.