They got up, drove [Jesus] out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way. – Luke 4:29-30 (NRSV)
Went on his way? Went on his way?!? Is that truly all Luke has to say about the aftermath of an attempted murder, and no doubt a beating, too?
It says Jesus went on his way, like it was no big deal. But maybe he went on his way just looking like it was no big deal. Sometimes that’s the only way to survive the trauma, you know?
It says Jesus went on his way, like it was no big deal. But maybe he went on his way just looking like it was no big deal. Sometimes that’s the only way to survive the trauma, you know? Maybe he held his shredded dignity closed with one hand, forced his face into impassivity or hauteur, marshalled all his energy to keep his gait even and the tremble out of his legs until he was out of sight. Maybe he refused to let them see him cry. Maybe he joked about it to his disciples through split lips.
Then what? You can keep on keeping on for a while, but it’s going to catch up to you eventually. Did the adrenaline hangover shake its way through his body and out through his eyes, or maybe his mouth? Did he curl up in a ball and go catatonic? Did a disciple approach him gingerly and say, “Hey man, that was brutal. How you doing? Want to talk about it?” Did he fall on his knees and rage at God?
He went on his way. We all do, afterward; it’s the only choice the living have. I just hope he eventually found some time, and some people, for healing.
Prayer ~ Help us to do what we need to do to survive, God. Help us to do what we need to do to thrive, too. Amen
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Quinn G. Caldwell is Chaplain of the Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell University. His most recent book is a series of daily reflections for Advent and Christmas called All I Really Want: Reading for a Modern Christmas. Learn more about it and find him on Facebook at Quinn G. Caldwell.