March 30th, 2021

In the Game of Thrones world, a person on trial for a crime can demand a trial by combat. It was believed that the gods would execute justice through the duel. If the person on trial survived the combat, then clearly, he was innocent. What’s more, the prisoner had the right to name a champion to fight in his stead. 

Although the cosmology of Game of Thrones includes the old gods and the new, not to mention the Lord of Light, the trial by combat strikes a Christian cord – with a few differences. We definitely have a Champion to fight on our behalf. Yet, there is no question about our guilt or innocence – we are guilty. But, in the upside-down world of the gospel, our Champion loses the fight. He is the one who is killed. However, we still go free. 

This is what Holy Week is all about. The prophet says, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53: 4-6)

“O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Tuesday in Holy Week – BCP p. 220)