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MEDITATION:

Written by Margot Wallace

Gol ‘Gatha is not the place where anyone, especially a king, wants to end their life.  It was the most demeaning, brutal, Roman punishment rendered to their State’s most feared political adversaries – to hang humiliated in public view for days until death. The ways of kingship understood in Judah are based on the divine sayings by which God, through the prophets, bestows office.  Whoever sat at the right hand of a King on formal occasions was next to him in rank and identified as the official empowered to represent the king and carry out his policy. The King was the principal mediator between God and people.  Melchizedek, the ancient predecessor of the Davidic line in the kingship of Salem (old name for Jerusalem), was such a king. His name means “King of Righteousness” or Salem(peace), later known as Jerusalem.  There is no mention of his birth or death, however, this King is known by Abraham, combining the functions of king and priest (Genesis 13-14). 

Jesus Christ, through his submission to the Roman death on a cross, becomes the anticipated (Psalm 72) Messianic King – High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5-7). He sits at the right hand of God (Psalm 110), in anticipation of the Last Judgment that will take place at the end of time (Revelations). Holding his position eternally by overcoming death, he lives to intercede for us, who wish to draw near to God now. Through the power of an indestructible life, this Son is appointed, who has been made perfect forever.

PRAYER:

This prayer is modified from the Mozarabic Rite, a liturgical rite of the Latin Church, once used in what is now Spain and Portugal that was developed in the 500s A.D.

O God, Son of God, you suffered for us, the righteous for the unrighteous. Save us by the shame of your Passion and clothe us with the robe of your righteousness. Through the suffering and death you did not deserve we have escaped the punishment our sins have deserved. Amen.

MUSIC MEDITATION:

Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?  Performed by Three Mo’ Tenors

This is an American Spiritual that was first printed in 1899 and included in the Episcopal Church hymnal in 1940. It was the first spiritual to ever be put in any major American hymnal.