(You are invited to look at your hands)
As we look at our hands, we can see some of our life’s story etched on them: cared for, pampered, blemished, scarred, or out of shape, they tell some of our history. We also use hands as an image of ourselves, our actions, and attitudes, what we take and how we trust. Hands are part of this Good Friday story. May God’s Spirit touch our hands, our heads, and our hearts as we share this story again.
CLEAN HANDS
Reading 1: John 18:28–32
Jesus before Pilate
28 Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters.[a] It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters,[b] so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” 32 (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
Reflection 1: The religious leaders of Jesus’ day worked hard to keep their laws and sometimes used it as excuse not to help people. Trying to keep their hands clean meant not getting involved.
We look at our own hands: clean from our morning shower, perhaps, or maybe there are still marks on them and dirt under our nails. We give thanks for our working days, the daily tasks we do to earn our living and run our homes; we are grateful to those who give us a hand, and we acknowledge that we live in community and often work with others.
BOUND HANDS
Reading 2: John 18:33–38a
33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters[a] again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
Reflection 2:
(You are invited to clasp your own hands together as we reflect on Jesus’ bound hands.)
Jesus’ hands were bound when he was arrested and as he was taken from place to place through his trial. Yet his hands were not simply bound by a rope or chains; he was bound by love to the truth and by courage to his identity.
We reflect on the family ties, bonds of relationship, values and identity that hold us together.
FREED HANDS
Reading 3: John 18:38b–40
38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
Jesus Sentenced to Death
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. 39 But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 40 They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.
Reflection 3:
(You are to use your hands as the following words suggest)
Imagine what it was like for Barabbas to be freed, un- bound and allowed to go home, despite his criminal past.
Stretch your fingers and loosen your hands as you are able and sense the freedom that you enjoy.
How would Barabbas have felt in the face of this unexpected and undeserved freedom?
In what ways do we like to experience a sense of freedom and release?
Or are we able to help someone else to become more free?
HANDS OF POWER
Reading 4: John 19:1–16a
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. 3 They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.”
7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”
8 Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. 9 He entered his headquarters[a] again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”
13 When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat[b] on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew[c] Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” 16 Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
Reflection 4:
(You are invited to clench your hands into fists)
Hands can be clenched into fists; when do you clench your fists? Fists can be used for punching and causing hurt; they can also be used for kneading dough or shaping clay.
All communities and societies have leaders, formally or informally, who wield power for the common good or for a hidden agenda, whose decisions can bring life or death for others. People in crowds also wield power. In his position of power, Pilate was filled with fear. Who, among our leaders, are in positions of conflicting interests, of power struggles or compromise? Who is showing leadership that sustains our community?
What responsibilities do we carry that cause us anxiety or concern?
WOUNDED HANDS
Reading 5: John 19:16b–24
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So they took Jesus; 17 and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew[a] is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth,[b] the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew,[c] in Latin, and in Greek. 21 Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.”
Reflection 5:
(You are invited to look very closely at your hands, especially at any scars, calluses or deformities)
Hands can be strong, but they are also sensitive and vulnerable. You may have wounds on your hands now or recall past injuries; our palms can be toughened but the backs of our hands are often sensitive.
(You are invited to run your fingers over your palm and the back of your hand to feel the difference)
Jesus understood the dynamics behind his arrest and victimization, yet allowed himself to be in this position of vulnerability. The soldiers showed more respect for his tunic than for Jesus himself. Where in the world would we like to reach out our hands to relieve suffering?
From which situations do we hold back, for fear of being hurt ourselves?
HANDING OVER
Reading 6: John 19:25b–30
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
28 After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Reflection 6:
(You are invited to hold your hands on your lap with open palms)
As we look at our open palms, we reflect that sometimes it is hard to open our hands to let go of things. A mother’s devotion to her son brought Mary to the cross, along with other women who stayed close to one another for support. In turn, Jesus showed his love for her by entrusting her to the care of his closest friend. Then, from a place of fulfilment, Jesus entrusts his life to God, handing over his spirit and all that his life had stood for.
Who holds on to us, needing us to stay close to them and offer support in their time of need?
What things do we need to let go in order to move on in life?
CARING HANDS
Reading 7: John 19:31–42
Jesus’ Side Is Pierced
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the Sabbath, especially because that Sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35 (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows[a] that he tells the truth.) 36 These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”
Reflection 7:
(You are invited to hold your hands together)
Hands often express our care for others: in a gentle touch, or as hands are held to share courage and strength. As we hold our hands gently together, we think of how the soldiers handled Jesus with a crude form of respect at his death. For Nicodemus, Jesus’ death brought the courage he needed to show his loyalty. He was joined by others, and together they took Jesus’ body to its resting place.
How do we handle Jesus’ death? When have we seen it as an inconvenience to be explained away and put out of sight, like the religious leaders who wanted the bodies taken away for the Sabbath?
When have we found the courage to declare our allegiance to the crucified One?
Rev Stephanie Wells, 15 April 2022