My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!

I led you out of Egypt,
from slavery to freedom,
but you led your Savior to the cross.

For forty years I led you
safely through the desert.
I fed you with manna from heaven,
and brought you to a land of plenty;
but you led your Savior to the cross.

What more could I have done for you?
I planted you as my fairest vine,
but you yielded only bitterness:
when I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink,
and you pierced your Savior with a lance.

For your sake I scourged your captors
and their firstborn sons,
but you brought your scourges down on me.

I led you from slavery to freedom
and drowned your captors in the sea,
but you handed me over to your high priests.

I opened the sea before you,
but you opened my side with a spear.

I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud,
but you led me to Pilate’s court.

I bore you up with manna in the desert,
but you struck me down and scourged me.

I gave you saving water from the rock,
but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.

For you I struck down the kings of Canaan.
but you struck my head with a reed.

I gave you a royal scepter,
but you gave me a crown of thorns.

I raised you to the height of majesty,
but you have raised me high on a cross.

My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me!*

We weren’t there, standing outside the courts of Pilate and shouting, “Crucify Him!” We weren’t there in the Praetorium, striking Him and spitting on Him and whipping Him. We weren’t there on the hilltop, mocking Him and telling Him to save Himself.

We weren’t there. But our sins were. Our pride. Our unbelief. Our doubt. Our heresy. Our judgment. Our scorn.

Our sins stained the air. The weight of them bore Him down upon that cross. They separated Him from His precious Father in a way nothing had ever done before. Because He was fully human, we know He asked why. Why? Why were the people He loved so much treating Him this way?

And yet, even in that horrible wonder, even as He yearned for it to be different, He made the choice not to save Himself…so that He could save us. We delivered Him to the ultimate pain, the ultimate humiliation, the ultimate sorrow…and He used it for our redemption.

He gave us the world. We gave Him the cross. And then by that cross, He gave us heaven too.

Lord, I am unworthy. And yet, by Your blood, made worthy. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

*Taken from the traditional Good Friday Reproaches (Improperia)