This division between his supporters and his opponents did not stop there.  As was inevitable, it grew until it ended in total allegiance on the one hand and total rejection on the other.  That was the fateful choice which forced itself on all those who took part in that momentous drama which centred on Our Blessed Lord.

Thus in the end there were left those whose hatred led them to engineer his death; and those who, out of love for him, finally embraced death itself for his sake.  Each one, by his very attitude to Our Lord, revealed himself in his true colours and thereby passed judgement on himself.

That same choice must in the end be irrevocably made by everyone who knows Our Blessed Lord and what he stands for.  “What do you think of Christ?” (Matthew 22:42) is a question which is answered by each one’s attitude to him.  Is it to be the answer given by the people in the parable, “We do not want this man to rule over us”? (NRSV, Luke 19:14).  Or is it to be the answer given by the aged Bishop Polycarp in around 155 AD when offered the choice of cursing Christ or of being put to death, “Eighty-six years have I served Him,” was his steadfast reply, “and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” (1)

There are those, however, who attempt to evade the issue by claiming to be Christians but without taking the necessary step to back up that claim.  For a Christian is one who, having been christened, is not ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified; and to follow and own him, publicly if need be, as his or her absolute Lord and Master.  Our Blessed Lord himself has given the answer once and for all to the futile attempt to avoid taking sides, “Whoever is not with me is against me…” (NRSV, Matthew 12:30).