Forgiveness Via Dolorosa
ROSALIND HERBERT
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This season once again reminds us to put aside our personal grudges and enmities and instead follow the message of love and forgiveness.
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The noise from the Temple of Antonio in Jerusalem swept over the quiet hillside where the two shepherd boys, Ben and Samuel, grazed their sheep. They ran down the hill and heard the people shout, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
It was the festival of the Passover, when Israelites commemorated their release from slavery in Egypt. Today, it was different. Roman soldiers marched up and down the streets, trying to keep peace. Both the Sanhedrin (Council) and also Pilate, the Governor of Judea, had found Jesus of Nazareth guilty. They accused him of breaking the peace and instigating people against Caesar and so had to suffer the extreme penalty of crucifixion.
"Samuel!" said Ben, "I think they are going to crucify Jesus, our Rabbi who told us such nice parables."
"How can they? Mother says that Judas betrayed Him to the scribes of the Temple for 30 pieces of silver! Can you believe this? Judas was a friend and follower of Jesus. Can anybody betray a friend?"
"I too heard about this, that Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemene praying, when Judas called out `Master' and kissed Him and betrayed Him. Now they have accused him and condemned Him to death by crucifixion. Isn't it terrible?"
A lesson learnt
Ben and Sam were best friends but their parents hated each other. But the boys met on the hillside and laughed away their cares. "Ben, I am going home early today, got to get the sheep in," said Samuel as he left.
But later Sam's father came searching for him. "Hey you!" he shouted out to Ben. "Know where my son is?"
"Yes sir," said Ben. Suddenly there was a loud scream as Sam's father tripped on a stone and went rolling down. Ben ran quickly to help him. He pulled him up and said, "Put your hands on my shoulder Sir, and I will take you home."
Sam's father had not expected the boy to be so kind. Nobody would have found him till the next day had not Ben helped him.
"I'm sorry Ben. I have hurt you and your parents with insincerity and unforgiving ways. Jesus is on the cross today. So let us forget our quarrels and go together and be with the Master in His hour of need."
Jesus was already being dragged along the Via Dolorosa (called the way of the cross). It was a winding, steep and rocky path.
"Hey you! Come and help this man carry the cross," shouted a Roman soldier to Simon, the Cyrenian, and an egg-seller. He was reluctant to leave his basket of eggs, but `crash' came the leather thongs on him and he left his basket and ran to help Jesus.
The crowd was huge and unmanageable but the Roman soldiers walked up and down with unsheathed swords and fear was writ large on the faces of the crowd.
At the place called Calvary, Jesus was nailed to the cross and crucified with two robbers on either side of him. He was made to wear a crown of thorns. Jesus spoke from the cross asking God to forgive these people for what they had done, for they did not know what they were doing. He spoke of love and forgiveness.
Celebrations
All over the world Christians celebrate this day as Good Friday. Christians believe that Jesus rose again from the dead on the third day and he went to heaven. This day is celebrated as Easter — a victory over the grave. Hot cross buns are eaten on Good Friday and Easter eggs made of chocolate and marzipan on Easter. Eggs signify new life which springs forth in us, to forgive our enemies.
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