The more you hear a story, the impact or mystery of it goes away, because as late radio broadcaster Paul Harvey would say, “and now you know the rest of the story.”  

Do you feel that way about the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ? We hear it proclaimed twice each year: today on Palm Sunday and on Good Friday. There are three different versions but it’s the same story. 

We know the story, we know what happens to Jesus. We also know what happens three days later. But I want to focus on what happens before that third day. If we skip right to Easter, we fail to understand the incredible love Jesus has for each of us. Easter is 50 days long, so we have plenty of time to rejoice in His Resurrection and Ascension. 

There is a song typically sung on Good Friday, called “Were You There?”  The first verse is: “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” Then later, the words are: “sometimes it causes me to tremble”.

Do we tremble when we hear or read the Passion? Have you ever put yourself into the story? The words of the song are past tense, but I would challenge us to see it as present tense. So this year, instead of “were you there”, I’m going to ask you a question. “Will you be there”… be there and experience it like you don’t know the rest of the story?

Will you be there to help prepare the Passover meal? To sit with Jesus at the Last Supper. Can you feel the water on your feet as Jesus washes them for you, showing you how to be a servant to all? Can you smell the food that was prepared? Can you feel the cup when it is passed to you, and you pass it to another? 

What are you thinking when Jesus says: “do this in memory of me”? We know now that’s when Jesus instituted the priesthood and the Eucharist. 

Will you be there in the garden of Gethsemane and wait while Jesus prays to the Father for strength to endure what he will endure? What do you see? What do you hear? I’m guessing it’s very dark. Jesus asks you to be awake and aware. How hard are you trying to stay awake?

Will you be there when Jesus is falsely accused or will you deny knowing him like Peter? Because we know the rest of the story, unlike Peter; we know Jesus forgives him and trusts him to Sheppard his flock. Do you comfort Peter and help him through his sadness and distress just like we are called to do for those we encounter? If, like Peter, you deny him, do you ask Jesus to forgive you?

Will you be there when Jesus is scourged for our sins? Each strike to his body is another of our sins that he takes on. What are you feeling as this happens? Can you watch or do you have to turn away?

Will you be there when Jesus is humiliated, mocked and spit on and incurs more pain with the crown of thorns? Do you have the courage and strength to beg them to stop or are you silent?

Will you be there when Jesus is judged and condemned? Do you defend him like we are to defend the people who can’t defend themselves? Are you angry over the injustice of the sham of the trial?

Will you be there like Simon of Cyrene to help carry the Cross? How heavy is it? Are you talking to Jesus as you both carry the Cross? What do you hear from the crowds or the soldiers? Is it difficult to walk on the path? Do you remember the times Jesus carried it all for you? 

Will you be there when Jesus is nailed to the cross? Do you hear him trying to breathe and what are you thinking when Jesus asks the Father to forgive them and shows mercy to the repentant thief? Are you confused as to how Jesus can be so forgiving? Do you remember the mercy He has shown to you?

Will you there when Jesus takes his last breath? Are you crying that your good friend is gone and the hope you had for freedom from the Romans has been extinguished? Remember that at that time you don’t know that this was God’s plan to save us and Jesus came to rescue us.

I encourage you during this Holy Week to put yourself into the story. Really be there, hear, and see everything. Feel the emotions of the crowds. Feel your emotions as everything unfolds, unaware of what happens at Easter. If you want to be closer to Jesus, there is no better way than to journey with Him on The Way to the Cross. Talk to Him, ask him any question. Ask Him why this is happening… and I am 100 percent sure of Jesus’ reply. Jesus will say: “because I love you.”

So, will you be there?