Bethlehem Lutheran Church

O my people, o my church, what more could I have done for you? This is truly an indicting refrain that is a part of our liturgy this Good Friday. Its repetition is haunting, and it is haunting because the story it tells is our own story. It is a story of God's love, a story of God's saving acts, it is a story of God's faithful commitment to God's own people and it is a story of that people's unfaithfulness. It is our story. It is a story that is completed today on the cross. O my people, O my church, what more could I have done for you? It is a question repeated often today.

It is a question for which we have only one answer, nothing. There is nothing more you could have done for your people O God. There is nothing more you could have given us. You have called us to yourself, to be with you, but we have wandered away.

In one of tonight's readings from the Gospel of John, Jesus says to the crowd gathered around the cross, "I thirst." That seems natural given the circumstances. It is expected, given what Jesus endured: the flogging, the beating, the crown of thorns, the piercing nails. It makes sense given the physical cruelty and agony Jesus experienced, that Jesus would make this statement. It make sense to is, but Jesus is speaking of more than a physical thirst, his thirst is of another variety a deeper kind, perhaps his thirst is for us, for you and for me.

Given the circumstances we would have good reason to be skeptical. After all Jesus' body has been brutalized, his last breaths cannot be far away. So really, he must only be after a little water to ease pain and delay the end. To be sure Jesus' body had been broken, but this cross, this pain is one that Jesus has chosen willfully, it is one that he expected. The Gospel of John gives us a little clue to help see that Jesus' thirst runs a little deeper than a parched throat and a dehydrated body.

John tells us that Jesus' words "I thirst" are said to fulfill or rather to complete the scripture. Jesus' thirst points to something much bigger than a basic need for water. His thirst is for relationship; his thirst is for this world. His thirst completes what God has begun. Does this surprise you? Does this shock you? For I must confess that it seems to make little sense to me. At Jesus' greatest moment of physical need, at the time where his life is nearing its end, where he is in want of so many things, his deepest need is to be in relationship with his people? Improbable though to may seem Jesus thirsts to be in relationship with you and me and the whole world. For God's love, Christ's love for us, is shown and made complete in Jesus' self emptying death on the cross. Jesus gave all of himself to us: his life, his breath, all that was his so that we might know and love him. Jesus thirsts for us, but like those standing around the cross all we offer him in return is sour wine, vinegar.

Ah yes, Jesus, but you don't understand, we say. There are so many things that get in the way, how can we be in relationship with you? Who are we to enter into this relationship? Or who are you that you ask me to know you? We've got barriers Jesus; there are things that stand in the way of what you are thirsting for. We say I'm damaged goods, you don't know what I've done. Or, I'm fine thanks very much all on my own, I don't need you. Or, I have been through so much in this life, experienced so much pain and where have you been, why would I want to be in relationship with you when you've left me all alone? We've got barriers Jesus, there are thing that are in the way.

O my people, O my church, what more could I have done for you? Answer me. Barriers. Walls. Shields. We build them, create them, imagine them, and use them. Our wrongdoings, our anger, our pride, our insistent self reliance, our barriers, are any of them bigger or taller or wider or stronger than death? Can what we create or use to wall ourselves in and separate ourselves endure death? Of course not. The truth is only God's willful, unrelenting and unending love can endure death, only God's love for the whole world that is demonstrated on the cross of Jesus Christ stands a chance against the power of death.

If God's love which is made known to us in the cross of Jesus Christ, if God's love which is stronger than death is for us, who can be against us? What can possibly separate us, which of our barriers are strong enough to stand? None, for even our best and strongest barriers dissolve before God's love. A love that will swallow up all things, a love so strong that even death can not endure it.

Today/Tonight and everyday/night Jesus thirsts for us. May we hear his call this day, put down our vinegar and quench God's thirst for us with our love. O my people, O my church, what more could I have done for you? There is nothing, Jesus has done it all. For this we give thanks. Amen.