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Theater of Horrors

Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-9a ; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11 ; Luke 22:14–23:56

“Father, forgive them;
for they do not know what they are doing.”

–  Luke 23:24

The Passion narrative in Luke is a biblical text where listening to the Word may be even more powerful than reading it. If you have access to an audio bible, I indeed recommend it. I close my eyes, and I feel like I am there among those watching the different scenes that together form what can only be described as a theater of horrors. Luke is, for me,  the evangelist who can best incite the mix of dread, angst, powerlessness, and fear, which makes me sick to my stomach. 

The sinking feeling can be even stronger if we add to the playlist the verses about the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (19:28-40). Then, like in any good play in a theater of horrors, it starts with smiles. Images of a sunny day in the ancient holy city decorated with green palms come to mind. Those present shout with joy, “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” the old cheerful acclamation for leaders which, the people hope, will to take over with news of immediate bliss. 

However, right there, we the audience, are introduced to clues that lead to suspicion. Something is not right. The king enters not in a horse but in a donkey. Furthermore, the spectacle may be insulting the wrong kind of people. So much so, that some in the crowd perhaps are growing concerned about the possible ripple effects. It feels like they are trying to warn  Jesus, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop” (19:39). 

Is too late now though. Things have been set in motion and what follows the last supper scene (22:14-23) is not pretty. No, what follows is humankind at its worst. When it is not possible to go down any further, there come new layers of cruelty and lunacy. It is the raw and explicit image of what happens when God’s people come undone, wholly possessed by this world, and rejecting Christ to the fullest.  Luke takes us to a ride to the bowels of hell as it is imagined to be. 

Then is done, the promised savior of the world gives up his spirit and gasps for air, in agonized pain, one last time, when he chokes to death (23:46). It feels that we are taken to the point of absolute no return. No one could have imagined what just took place. No one thought it could come down to this. What have we done? The audience asks.

God knows very well what we have done.  God the Father makes his grief know to mouths already agasp. Darkness takes over and the place of false worship torn down (44-45). 

God the Son, also realizes what has taken place. He knows it exactly. However, praying for our forgiveness is just the beginning. The story was never meant to end here.