"A Willing Exchange" - Good Friday Sermon

A Willing Exchange
Good Friday – Narrative Lectionary 4
April 18, 2014
Grace, Mankato, MN
John 19.28-42

Why? Why did Jesus have to die? Surely that question was foremost in the minds of those at the cross two millennia ago. Yet, even those of us 2,000 years on the other side of the empty tomb ask this question; “Why?” His early followers, both open and secret, witnessed the injustice first hand as Jesus was caught between powerful religious leaders who couldn’t see what God was doing and a Roman governmental system that had no tolerance for rebellion and insurrection. Certainly, Jesus wasn’t the first scapegoat in human history, someone to be used as a safety valve for society’s anxiety and angst, and he most certainly was not the last. Ironically, the Jewish people have frequently held this role, wherever they have lived, as have others: blacks, Hispanics, gays, etc. to name a few.

Why Jesus had to die is a seemingly simple question that deserves a far more complicated answer than we can give tonight. One possible answer comes out of our reading: to fulfill scripture in some way that we hadn’t anticipated. Another answer is close behind: that he was not as much a victim as one who willingly died for us. As that most famous verse earlier in John says, “God so loved the world,” right, “that he gave his only Son,” because we can’t do it ourselves. Less satisfying but more popular answers come from other places: that God is angry with us and sin, so angry that God’s wrath needs to be appeased by a blood sacrifice. So Jesus became that sacrifice for us. I find this response far less appealing.

A more helpful, if not subtle, reason for Jesus’ death also comes from our reading tonight. As Jesus thirsts and receives the sour, almost vinegary wine, we are reminded of an earlier scene in John’s gospel. Do you remember three months ago when we read the story of the wedding at Cana in chapter 2? The wine runs out at a wedding feast, attended by Jesus, his followers and his mother. Jesus’ mother tells him, in so many words, to fix it. Jesus asks, “Woman, what is it to you and to me,” telling her that his hour hasn’t come yet. When his mother tells the servants to “do what he tells you,” Jesus has them fill six containers with water, each holding 20-30 gallons. When they draw out some to take to the wine steward, the water-now-wine is declared the best ever and surprise is expressed that it has been saved for last.

Our text tonight is a bookend to the Cana story, the only two places in John’s gospel where Jesus’ mother appears. Both involve wine and we learn now that the hour has come. Jesus now finishes the work that God has sent him to do and the exchange of good wine for sour shows how Jesus gives us what we need at the expense of denying himself. The good wine demonstrates God’s blessing bestowed on us in exchange for our brokenness. Jesus willingly takes upon himself all of the sour wine of our sinfulness and ways we fall short. In its place Jesus pours out the good wine of his righteousness, healing the break between us and God. All of our pain and alienation from God are crucified on the cross. We are freed from their power.

Which of us hasn’t experienced a hint of this willing exchange in our live? For example, the parent who goes without so the child has what she needs. The older sister who willingly takes responsibility and blame for what the younger has done because the younger can’t. The host who willingly takes the burnt or overdone food so that their guest has the best meal. You can add more to the list. Why did Jesus have to die? Because God loves us and gives for us what we can’t give ourselves, a restored relationship with him and with each other. There’s more to come, as you well know, but until then I invite you to linger (not wallow) in this incredible, mysterious and loving act of God. Amen.