Christ on Trial

A Lenten Service Series

March 9, 2008   Fifth Week of Lent

"Witness: John"

Prosecutor:  The court calls the Apostle John. Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

John:  I do.  

Prosecutor:  Tonight we will hear from the man called the Apostle John. He was part of Jesus' inner circle of disciples. In fact, since some referred to him as "the Beloved Disciple," we can assume that he, of all the disciples, knew Jesus best. We ask the jury to keep in mind that one so intimately connected to Jesus is bound to give biased testimony. Now, John, I'd like to get just a little background on you. You, along with your brother James, were a fisherman. You were invited to join Jesus one day when you were working on the net with your father, Zebedee. Is that correct?

John:  Yes, Jesus called us. We dropped what we were doing and followed Him.

Prosecutor:  You were particularly close to Him, one of His favorites. You were privy to events and conversations that others were not. Correct? 

John:  I don't think Jesus played favorites, but I was present for the most wondrous events.

Prosecutor:  I understand that Jesus gave you and your brother a nickname, "Sons of Thunder." Would you tell us what that meant?

John:  Well, some say we were a bit impulsive, even hot-headed.

Prosecutor:  Yes..., Jesus did seem to attract and employ quite an unusual group for such a "holy" man: a tax collector, a member of the radical political wing (the zealots), a couple of hot-heads, not to mention some women of questionable reputation.

John:  (said with some anger) Now, just wait a minute! It wasn't like that. We weren't some group of wackos or rebels. Jesus changed lives!

Prosecutor:  Oh, never mind--no offense intended. Why don't we get to the subject of tonight's testimony? You were present when Jesus talked about being the bread of life. Is that correct?

John:  Yes.

Prosecutor:  This was shortly after he fed 5000 or more people, so He had attracted quite a following. It sounds as though He was trying to cement their loyalty by promising them free meals for life. (Aside: People never will learn there's no free lunch.) Just where was He going to get all this bread?

John:  He didn't mean literal bread. He was talking about Himself. He was sent by God to satisfy a deeper hunger. As we eat His body and drink His blood...

Prosecutor:  (interrupting) What?! Are you saying this Jesus was instituting some kind of cannibalistic cult? Are you actually claiming He was going to give His body to eat?

John:  (angry) We are no cannibalistic cult! (calmer, but fervent) Jesus did give His life for us. He died for our sins. He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. All people have a deep hunger for God--to be back in the relationship they had with Him before sin came into the world and separated us from God. Through Jesus we are reunited with God and that hunger is satisfied.

Prosecutor:  But Jesus did say, "I am the living bread ... If a man eats this bread" and "This bread is my flesh..." He also said, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him." Surely, you don't expect these intelligent men and women of the jury to believe that Jesus was speaking symbolically? The words seem quite clear to us.

John:  Well, yes or no. The Jewish people understood bread as the Word of God. They often wrote of the height of their relationship with God as being like enjoying a banquet with Him. The bread--Word of God--was their symbolic way of describing this. That is why Jesus refers to the manna in the wilderness. Manna was more than just food. It also meant God's care of His people by the giving of His word so that we who believe could have eternal life. Don't you see? It is by coming to know Jesus as that living bread from God and believing in Him that we are assured of life with God forever.

Prosecutor:  All right, we'll let that pass. It was really just an experience of a small sect of Judaism who enjoyed a few years with this itinerant rabbi. He's dead and gone now. What we really want to know is ...

John:  (interrupting) But, that's just it! He's not gone. Yes, they killed Him on the cross that awful day. But death had no victory. He rose from the dead. And before He returned to be with the Father, He promised to be with us always. He makes His presence known to us through the Scriptures, and through the bread and wine of Communion. He is truly there in that ordinary food, assuring us of forgiveness of our sins and salvation, and strengthening us in our faith.

Prosecutor:  I'm afraid that that is too far over the head of a poor prosecutor, and the jury for that matter. It's just a bit too mysterious for us to grasp.

John:  Yes, it is a mystery. But we don't have to understand it. We just need to accept the mystery of God's love, that though we are totally undeserving, God sent His Son down to die to pay for our sins and to rise in victory over sin and death. He remains with us in the Word and Sacraments of Baptism and Communion. Thus, He truly is the bread of life.

Prosecutor:  Well, John, if believing that makes you and other mystery lovers feel better, I guess it's okay. You are dismissed. (to the jury) This Jesus made ridiculous, extraordinary, even blasphemous claims for Himself--Son of God, bread from heaven, able to rise from the dead and save people from their sins, continue with them in the Word and in the bread and wine. I'm sure you, the jury, can see how guilty He is of the charges against Him. But it doesn't seem that we need to worry about a continuing problem with His followers. Surely, such beliefs can't last long after the leader is gone. He'll soon be forgotten. This mystery religion won't spread. Hmm, bread of life, indeed.