Lifted high — drawing all folks to you
Albert Bogle
September 19, 2023
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Matthew 27: 50-54 (NRSVA)
50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53 After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was God’s Son!’
Salvador Dali’s painting of the crucifixion places Jesus on the cross in mid air. The painting reflects for me the words of Jesus in John chapter 12: 32 where he says, “When I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all humanity to myself.” Unlike the raw brutality of Mel Gibson’s ‘Passion’ in some way it’s power to speak is revealed through it’s hidden scars, and the eternal truth that the cross has always been. (It was slashed and vandalised in the late 1960s while on display at Kelvin Grove Art galleries). As we gaze we see meekness and majesty overshadowing the redemption of the world as St John mends his nets .
In our reading today from Matthew’s Gospel we are introduced to the mystery and the drawing power of our Lord Jesus as he is lifted high from the earth. There is much that could be written about the words, in our reading, where it says, “He gave up his spirit” something seismic happened, releasing eternity into time. The way into God’s presence had changed forever. The great curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom. The holy of holies, within the temple, lay open for all to walk into God’s presence.
Is this what the phrase “giving up of his spirit,” really means? The giving over of his Spirit into the world to allow men and women to know the indwelling power of God in their lives? God was revealing himself in Christ. The temple is now within the believer.
He was ‘lifted up’ and a battle hardened Roman centurion saw God come close to him and his head was turned. I’d like to think he was changed forever. Today let us keep gazing at the one ‘lifted up’, for in the ‘lifting up’ we are leaving our earthbound selves behind in order to enter into the heavenly places where Jesus longs to meet with us.
Bewildered
Lord,
I stand gazing up
Bewildered
By your death
An eternal truth
Breaking into time
That still speaks to human beings like me
Drawing us into your presence
Lifted high over 80 generations
Breathing out your Spirit
Turning fishermen into apostles
Drawing all of creation back to yourself
Lord I’m still standing
In awe of your everlasting love
That continues to reach out across the generations
Your power
Your strength
Your confidence
That lifts you high above all others
You truly are like a magnetic power
Drawing all folk into yourself
Calling me to also follow
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