Faces Around the Cross: 2 of 9
Faces Around the Cross: 6 of 9
The Beloved Disciple
Worth Green, Th.M., D.Min.
This morning, I want to talk about the “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” also known as “the Beloved Disciple.” This reference appears only in the 4th Gospel, and it appears only four times in three incidents. (See Footnote 1) The thee specific references to the Beloved Disciple vary greatly in tone.
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Responding to God in Faithfulness
Our gospel lesson from Matthew is one of my favorite passages in all the New Testament. This is a story we are all familiar with of the disciple Peter walking on water to Jesus guided by his faith and trust. However, as Peter became afraid and forgot his focus, he began to sink. There are two levels in our gospel lesson today that we could examine. In one level we see Jesus calm the storm. Jesus is the one who brings peace to those who battle storms in their lives. The other level is one where we see Jesus as the one who offers power. Jesus is the one who calls his followers to come and follow him, to respond to his call in faithfulness. For those who are willing to step out from the safety of their boats, Jesus is there to offer his love and support.
Faces Around the Cross: 5 of 9
em>Great Women-The First Apostle
Worth Green, Th.M., D.Min.
This morning we are talking once more about the Faces Around the Cross. I have entitled the sermon, Great Women, but I want to zero in on one woman. Her name is Mary Magdalene. 1) Mary Magdalene is the only woman mentioned by name or implication in all four gospel as a witness to the crucifixion of Jesus. (Note 1) Mary Magdalene is the only woman mentioned in all four gospels by name or implication as witness to the burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea. (Note 2) 3) Mary Magdalene is the only person in all four gospels who discovers the empty tomb. 4) And Mary Magdalene is the mentioned by name in three of the four gospels as a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. (Note 3) 5) In Matthew and especially in John’s gospel Mary Magdalene is not only a witness to the resurrection, she is the first witness to the resurrection, and arguably, not just the first woman apostle, but the First Apostle, period.
In fact, Mary Magdalene has been called “the Apostle to the Apostles,” meaning that it was Mary who was first preached the good news of the resurrection of Jesus, and the first congregation to which she preached it was made up of the Apostle’s themselves!
Faces Around the Cross: 4 of 9
Faces Around the Cross: Good Guys
Worth Green, Th.M. D. Min.
We are talking about faces around the cross. We have looked at the clergy, and the soldiers, and those whom we called “the bad guys” meaning the criminals crucified with Jesus. Now let us look at those I have tentatively called “the good guys.”
The vast majority of the crowd who saw Jesus die may be classed as “good guys,” and there is every reason to believe that the crowd that witnessed the crucifixion was even larger than that which welcomed Jesus into the city of Jerusalem during his triumphal entry on a colt, the foal of an ass.
Faces Around the Cross: 3 of 9
Faces Around the Cross: Bad Guys
Worth Green, Th.M., D.Min.
We are looking at “Faces Around the Cross.” We have already looked at the clergy, and the soldiers. Today we look at the Bad Guys. I have used the term “bad guys” to refer to those who were crucified alongside Jesus. Of course, we might just as easily call them “victims,” for many of those who were crucified by the Romans were arguably kinder, gentler, better people than many of those who carried out the crucifixions.
The tradition of two others being crucified alongside of Jesus is well established. It is mentioned in each of the four gospels.
Faces Around the Cross: 2 of 9
Faces Around the Cross: The Soldiers
Worth Green, Th.M., D.Min.
We are looking at “Faces Around the Cross.” According to the gospels an undetermined number of Roman soldiers witnessed the death of Jesus. Matthew and Mark both mention that a whole battalion mocked Jesus while he was still Pilate’s prisoner. A Roman battalion consisted of between 400 and 600 Men. John mentions that 4 soldiers gambled for the clothing of Jesus at the foot of the cross. The number of soldiers who witnessed the crucifixion lies between these two extremes. All three synoptic gospels mentions one officer, a centurion. The very title “centurion” means “leader of 100.” Given the division of opinion about Jesus in the city of Jerusalem during the week before his death—many loved him and many hated him, it may be that the centurion used rather more of his company than less for crowd control as he took Jesus from the place of judgment, through the streets of the city, to the place of execution.
