Good Friday
The most solemn heartbreaking day. The sinless lamb of God, Jesus was betrayed, accused falsely, beaten and nailed to a cross. To die a shameful agonizing death. A day of deep sorrow. A sorrow that put Jesus on that cross with my sins. Also a day of deepest gratitude. I think of the love he had to do such a thing, for all of us.To make a way we don’t have to pay for our own sin. All we have to do is accept what Jesus has done for us. Accept his extraordinary love.By faith, ask him to forgive our sin that put him on the cross. Tell him you want his help to go through the rest of life. He will be there for you. Through every glorious time of life and through the darkest of times. You will never be alone. Jesus willingly made this sacrifice of his life for all of humanity. It is called Good Friday not because of what happened but because of what it accomplished. Reconciling sinners to a holy God. These events began in the early hours after Jesus’ arrest at Gethsemane. Betrayed by a kiss from Judas. Jesus was taken away in the dark of early morning. Subjected to unlawful trials before Roman authorities and religious leaders. Jewish leaders accused him of blasphemy for claiming to be God’s son. Knowing this charge wouldn’t be enough for the Romans they twisted the charges. Framing him as a rebel claiming to be king which was a threat to Caesar. The Roman governor Pilate found no reason to charge Jesus and wanted to release him. The crowd was stirred by the chief priests and shouted crucify him. Mark 15:3. Pilate washed his hands as a symbol of distance from the situation and handed Jesus over to be crucified.
The irony of Good Friday. It wasn’t the Jewish leaders or Pilate who put Jesus on the cross. It was every persons sin and Jesus’ love for us. In his love he went willingly to the cross, fully aware of the suffering he had to endure. Because his love for us was greater than the pain he had to endure. Can you even imagine that kind of love? They led him away then mocked and beat him. They placed a crown of thorns on his head, hit him and spit on him. They forced him to carry his own cross to a place called Golgotha. The weight of the cross, along with the loss of blood from the beating and exhaustion overwhelmed Jesus. He stumbled under its burden. A man Simon was passing by and was compelled to carry the cross for Jesus.
At Golgotha they stripped off his clothes and nailed him to the cross. A nail through each wrist and one through his feet. They lifted the cross and left him hanging between two thieves. Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at him saying “If you are king of the Jews save yourself!” The other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? We indeed are suffering justly, we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. “And he was saying “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom!” Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise.” The crowd still cheered and taunted. This physical and emotional agony is unimaginable. Jesus endured it for me, for you.
Crucifixion was a torturous method of execution designed to maximize pain and prolong the suffering. Jesus didn’t curse or cry out in anger. Instead words of forgiveness rolled across his lips. Luke 23:34. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. It’s a difficult thing to comprehend, such grace. Who would do such a thing? What love he has for us. He could have allowed each of us to take our own punishment for what we have done. Then we would stand before a holy just God and have to take it all alone. Jesus loved us so much he gave us a way out. He was in more excruciating pain than we have ever known. His heart still filled with compassion for those who mocked and tortured him.
There was a moment Jesus felt the full weight of all humanity. Everyone’s sin. All sin then and even the sin of those yet to be born. Past, present and future sin. A separation from God that sin causes. He knew no sin, became sin for us so in him we might become the righteousness of God. Holy God can’t look upon sin. He was separated from his father. At that moment he cries out loud Matthew 27:46 “My God, My God why have you forsaken me?” This moment of being forsaken made Good Friday, good. Jesus took on our sin and it’s penalty so now we can be reconciled to God. We now have an opportunity. When we die and stand before a holy God, we can stand blameless and not take punishment. Or we can stand before him and answer for our own sin. II Corinthians 5:21 He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God.
The hours passed and the sky drew dark from noon until 3 in the afternoon. A supernatural darkness covered the land. A sign of the gravity of what was happening. Then with a loud voice Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” John 19:30. Not a cry of defeat but of victory. The debt of sin had been paid in full. The work of redemption was complete, with that Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
The Bible tells what happened at that very moment. Matthew 27:51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The high priest was only allowed behind this curtain one time a year. This was no ordinary curtain it was very heavy. It divided the Holy of Holies, the inner most sacred part of the temple from the rest of the sanctuary. It’s tearing by God was the acknowledgment that through Jesus death the barrier between God and humanity was removed. No longer were people separated from God. Through Jesus we now have direct access to God.
This confronts us with the reality of sin and its consequences. A day that calls us to repentance and gratitude. It’s a day that reveals the depth of God’s love. It shows us it’s never too late to ask forgiveness. Look what the thief on the cross did. It also shows we are never too bad of a person for his forgiveness. When we gaze on the cross we can see the cost of our redemption. We see the lengths God would go to save us. It reconciles us to God. We’re reminded of his love not because of what we have done but because of who he is. God the father invites us to stand in awe of his love for us. To answer his calling to come to him and accept Jesus.
Passion Saturday
A day of silence, waiting and uncertainty for the disciples. Saturday feels empty, still and sad. Hope seems lost and the future uncertain. Jesus’ lifeless body in the tomb behind a heavy stone blocking the door, guarded by Roman soldiers. The disciples were scattered, afraid and hiding, filled with grief. Everything seems to have failed. The one they believed to be Messiah, who spoke of life and resurrection was dead.
We often overlook this day, not talking much about it. As with every part of the Bible there is much we can learn. This day represents the in between. The time between death and resurrection, the time between despair and hope. It teaches us about waiting, trust and holding onto faith when God is silent.
The disciples had questions. Was it all for nothing? Had they misunderstood? Were they to be arrested and killed? This day is a day when faith is tested.
We are called to rest in what God has promised even when we can’t see it. In the middle of questions and waiting God worked. They couldn’t see it but the story was far from over. To them it seemed nothing was happening. In the unseen, victory was being taken care of. When Jesus declared “It is finished.” But the fullness of what he meant wasn’t yet understood. This is a reminder God is always working even though we can’t see it. His plans are never stopped by human failure or death, they can’t be. This was a day of mourning but also the beginning of something new.
As we concentrate on this we are invited to see the reality of waiting. There is pain in not yet seeing the promise fulfilled. It reflects our own experiences of waiting on God, and trusting him in his dead silence. Trusting and believing in his goodness even when everything around you screams otherwise. This day teaches silence doesn’t mean absence. It’s not God denying us.
The darkest night gives way to dawn. As we sit in the stillness hold on to hope knowing Sunday’s coming. The grave is not the end. Life will win over death, wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Jesus’ life won over death for all of us. Through Jesus we can spend eternity in heaven with him.