Watching and waiting

John 8:48-59

The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?” Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me. Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the judge. Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death. ’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

The forces gather

Authorities conspire

Time is running out for Jesus

Accused of being possessed

Almost stoned for speaking truth

that folks could not comprehend.

Forced out of the temple

and out of the city

while plots are hatched

to bring about his death.

On a crash course

with saving the world

And nothing will save him now

from the cruel death that awaits him

For the kingdom of which he spoke

was too far outside the realms

of human imagination.

Only realised

by his sacrifice of love.

Even the brief respite

of being hailed as a king

as he enters the city

to celebrate Passover

will not turn the tide

that is set against him.

And so we wait 

and watch

as the story unfolds.

And still we condone

persecution of those who are different

and oppression of those

who speak truth

that we don't want to hear today.

And we wait

and we watch.