“Arrest, Trial, and Resurrection of Jesus – Then and Now” by Graham Campbell

Editor’s comment: Lynne Carrol’s post from January16 about the “tremendous roaring” of the world got me thinking along with the start of Lent on February 18. Clearly the world roars right into our faith and church year.

This is my longest post. (I broke my own rule of 1,500 words.) In preparation for it, I read the crucifixion stories in all four Gospels which are approximately 10% of their narrative.

 

Arrest, Trial, and Resurrection of Jesus

Then and Now

by Graham Campbell

 

“After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now, Judas, who betrayed him also knew of this place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of solders together with police from the chief priests and Pharisees and they came there with lanterns, torches and weapons.”  – John 18:1-3

It occurs to me that our times are remarkably similar to what the disciples went through at the time of Jesus’ last supper, arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, and resurrection.

They had only three days of this crisis while we have years of challenge, chaos, violence, testing, and danger. Ice patrols many cities just as Roman centurions patrolled Israel as a mixture of political and religious authority oppressing the population. For the first time, I have some empathy for the timidity of the disciples in the time of Jesus’ death.

It makes me wonder what I/we would do if I arrived at FBC and found a detachment of ICE invading our well-known building. I hope I would impulsively charge up the stairs, join other staff and members, and battle ICE with my cane knowing it would not take much effort to throw me to the ground. I want to charge them and clobber one with my cane as Peter did as he slashed a priest’s servant’s ear off for which Jesus rebuked him (John 18:10). Or, would I run and hide as the original disciples did? Perhaps, I would flee from the danger and deny FBC as Peter denied Jesus three times (Mt 26:69-75). Peter, often considered his closest disciple, denied him THREE times.

Jesus had told them at the start of his ministry, three years earlier, that the Kingdom of God was close at hand (Mark 1:15). And after three years of teaching, healing, being followed by large crowds, and times of danger, the Kingdom must have felt incredibly close. The energy of the times: danger, joy, embodiment, chaos with increasing acknowledgment of Jesus must have felt vibrant. Then it all exploded. A blaze of hatred incinerated everything. A fire of backlash similar to our time. For three days, the disciples acted as if nothing was left, even their beloved teacher was gone. They hid in small groups behind locked doors, terrified that the authorities would recognize them as disciples of that radical troublemaker.

It took only three days for the Kingdom to reemerge in an unexpected way, a way after 2,000 years we take for granted because of how much we have heard about it. But then it was literally earth moving: a boulder that sealed the cave was moved. The women went to the cave to treat the body fully expecting it to be there and found it empty. They ran immediately to the disciples to tell them but were not believed. Jesus first appeared to the women several times, who at first did not recognize him. (John 20:14-15).

(A side note here: those who make a big thing about there being only male disciples and thus women should not be ordained conveniently ignore that the most important event of the New Testament is first discovered by women several times before the men, as all four Gospels report.)

Disciples had four days in hell before the Resurrection of Jesus led to THEIR resurrection out of their living inferno and emerging as disciples ready for their tasks. For me, the resurrection of the original disciples from a motley crew of people on the run into the foundation of a growing, thriving religion is of vital importance. It is this resurrection I seek.

Before our time blew up with hate, corruption, and revenge, I thought we were getting close. I thought we were emerging from the darkness of hate, racism, male toxicity, and homophobia. We were finally welcoming all people no matter what their orientation. The doors had been ripped off the closets. Marriage was validated for all people. And Transgender people were more able to be honest in public. And women could finally be taken seriously. And then it all exploded. An enormous amount of energy has gone into erasing all of what I saw as progress. The authorities have risen up in their own rebellion cloaked in religious fundamentalism which idealizes the culture of 1950. A new secret police, a Trumpian Gestapo, roam the streets seeking to oppress anyone not white, male, and subservient. This is just as the Roman Centurions patrolled the streets of Israel. No one is held responsible for the murders. This smothers everyone’s right to free speech. All other emerging groups will be oppressed back to their place regardless of what they want.

Just as present authorities cloak their actions in religious ideology, the Roman authorities and Temple Priests sought justification from each other. In scripture it is clear neither group wanted to take responsibility (John 18:28-31). Kind of like today with political authorities like Kristi Noem spouting nonsense about what Jesus taught. President Trump also appears before the annual interdenominational prayer breakfast and gives a vile, hate filled speech expecting of attending clergy. Both groups seem to be proud to use each other no matter how ineptly.

What needs to be recognized is that the crucifixion of Jesus has never and will never end. In Matthew 25, he told us that whatever we do to “the least of these” we do to him. So, as our government murders people like Renee Good and Alex Pretti, they once again crucify Him. Renee was shot three times just as Jesus had three nails (one in each wrist and one through both ankles). Alex was shot numerous times after they took his gun and disabled him, as Jesus was pierced after he was dead (John 19:31-36). Then, after ICE murdered both, they assassinated their character. They claimed Renee, who was merely picking up her child from school, was a radical troublemaker just as Jesus was taunted and mocked (Mark 15:29-32). They might as well put a sign over her head that read not “King of the Jews” (John 19:21) but “Queen of the rebellion, agitators, and radicals.” A group of ‘rent-a-cop’ gestapo became judge, jury, and executioner for both. Just as the crucifixion of Jesus was a warning from the Roman authorities to not defy Tiberius Caesar, the crucifixion of Alex Pretti is a warning to all citizens to not defy Emperor Trump. It is a boast from MAGA and evangelicals that ‘God is on our side’ just as it was a warning from the Pharisees and Chief Priests to not challenge them. In this, MAGA cheers as the crowd cheered for the release of Barabas (MT 27:15) when given the choice of Jesus or a criminal.

But as we know, crucifixion is not the end of the story of Jesus nor is it the end of the story for disciples in our time. Millions have been resurrected and are embodying the risen Christ in ‘The Resistance.’ Millions have basically shut down the state of Minnesota in direct, non-violent, peaceful defiance. Much of that defiance is in the form of compassion and protection of their neighbors. In the face of tyranny, compassion in the form of buying groceries for neighbors who are afraid to leave their homes has been resurrected. As we watch them, we have learned to roll away the stone from our tomb of apathy as we remember love as Jesus taught it.

And just as I am finishing writing this post, it is reported that ICE is on Belmont Street in Worcester near a school. Fear rises up. I, like the original disciples, don’t want to be recognized by them. But if Peter can be resurrected after denying Jesus three times, perhaps there is hope for me/us to stand up and out and face them directly. There is a resurrection of light after the crucifixions happening every day in our time.

This is spoken of in this poem written by the former poet laurate of Northfield Minnesota in February 2026.

 

Communion

There is no bread.

The bakers have gone into hiding.

The seats at the table are empty.

The twelve are out marching with the thousands.

The streets are filled with a new song.

Only Judas sits at Target Plaza, counting his silver,

while Pontius Pilate issues a carefully worded statement.

Meanwhile, the centurions have quotas to fill.

But on the streets there’s a communion.

Jesus takes the city in his hands and says,

“This is my body, broken for you.”

 

Rob Hardy

 

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A final element to this post is to acknowledge that as I worked on it, I learned, actually relearned, a great deal. I discovered some empathy for the disciples which I never had before. I also learned again that the Gospel is about more than the teachings of Jesus. To fully understand them, they need to be seen in the context of his whole life, his mission and the fulfillment of his ministry.