Good Friday, April 3

So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." Then the people as a whole answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Matthew 27:24-26

The Blame Game

Where there is conflict, there is blame.  The last days of Jesus’ life were filled with conflict and the accompanying finger-pointing. Judas’ betrayal.  The disciples’ abandonment.  Caiaphas’ megalomania.  Pilate’s cowardice.  The mob mentality.  Roman occupation.  Who or what was ultimately to blame for the death of Jesus?  Who truly has blood on their hands?

If we must point fingers, if we must find someone to blame, there is only one who is finally responsible.  And that One is God, creator and ruler of the universe, Alpha and Omega, All-Knowing, All-Powerful.  God set up the rules of the game.  God is the only one with the power to intervene.
 God knows every move every player will make.  God determines the winners and losers.  So only God can take the blame.

And only God can shoulder such an accusation.  God, who created the world in goodness and sustains it by grace.  God, who rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land.  God, who gave up the throne of heaven and took on the frailty and pain of human existence.  God, in the garden – let this cup pass, but Thy will be done.  God, self-forsaken on the cross – Eli, Eli, lema sabach thani?  

Yes, God is responsible.  God is to blame.  God is to blame for the death of Jesus, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.”

Let the blame game come to an end.

Thank you, God, for taking on the weight of this world’s blame, for taking upon yourself our sin.  Help us to turn to you in times of conflict rather than turning on one another so that we might grow in our love for you and our neighbors.  In the name of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.  Amen.

Rev. Amy Morgan