A lot was said at the cross. This message focuses on what was heard, on the kinds of languages spoken that day.
There were three languages spoken that day:
The Language of Pragmatism
This is the pragmatic language of Science and Maths. However, if that is the only language we speak, we become merely pragmatic, producing efficiency without joy, precision without beauty, knowledge without awe, and convenience without peace.
The priests and the elders sought to control the situation and deal with Jesus with their pragmatism. Pilate was a pragmatist too. Being the calculative pragmatist, he washed his hands of any responsibility (v.24). The soldiers were also speaking the same language. They divided Jesus’ clothes by casting lots (v.35).
The Language of Superstition
Many challenged Jesus to come down from the cross to prove that he was the Son of God (vv.39-43). If the problem with pragmatic language is a grossly reduced reality, the problem with the language of superstition is that it feeds on a diet of easy solutions and shortcuts.
He spoke seven sentences on the cross which are great expressions of this language: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Lk 23:34); … today you will be with me in paradise. (Lk 23:43); Dear woman, here is your son … Here is your mother. (Jn 19:26-27); I am thirsty (Jn 19:28); It is finished (Jn 19:30); My God, my God why have you forsaken me? (Mt 27:46); Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. (Lk 23:46) — all have to do with relationships. Hence the language of love.
The cross is also a window into God’s heart. We cannot understand and comprehend the cross with our languages of pragmatism and superstition. Only the language of love can help us. We must look into the eyes of the crucified Jesus and hear His loving words. It was a noisy place with so many talking. But we need to hear Jesus speaking.
Let us approach the cross. There we will find God who loves us with such limitless love.
