Obviously, none of us were physically present when Christ was crucified two thousand years ago. But on Good Friday, we took the time to reflect on the fact that, while we weren’t there physically, our lots are cast with those who drove Christ to the cross. And when Jesus prayed for their forgiveness, he was praying for ours, too.

We live in a time and place that values pluralism. (In fact, that’s something our culture has in common with many of the Roman cities where the gospel first took root.) However the Bible doesn’t call us to ignore our social, cultural, political and economic differences, as some do. Instead, scripture points us toward something that will allow us to subvert and transcend our differences, creating a newer, deeper unity.

You can download the bulletin that goes with this sermon’s worship service.

Within months of Jesus’ crucifixion, the earliest Christians had begun forming relationships that crossed ethnic, religious, cultural and class boundaries in ways the world had never seen before. What did they understand about the cross that made radically diverse relationships spring up in their lives? And are the things they understood still true today?

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