Good Friday

"From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?' --which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'....And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life."

(Matthew 27:45-46, 51-52)

On this Good Friday, we celebrate the cross. Indeed, it is a gruesome thing to celebrate. An instrument of torture, the cross was intended to deliver agony and public shame to its victims. When we meditate on Christ's death on the cross, we meditate on His pain, His suffering, His shame. We meditate on His agony and utter loneliness. Why is this good? How can we celebrate such a horrible event?

It is bloody, and it is horrible. But we can-and must-celebrate Christ's death on the cross, which brings our salvation. Jesus took our death sentence upon Himself, that we might come into unsullied relationship with the Holy God, giving us hope for redemption and an eternal future. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." Long before the manger, the Father planned for Calvary. Longing to be reconciled to sinful man, God did the work Himself by providing the sacrifice necessary. The perfect Lamb of God, Christ and His sacrifice on the cross provided a way for us to the Father:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)

We look to the cross as the foundation of our faith. It is the gruesome cross of Calvary upon which the whole message of Christianity pivots. As we consider Christ's death, I encourage you to remember that Jesus was not a victim but a volunteer. With the snap of His fingers, He could have called legions of angels to His rescue (not to mention the destruction of his accusers). But He did not. He stayed on the cross, obedient to the will of the Father until our salvation was secure. By His wounds we are healed. Hallelujah!

I encourage you today to remember that Christ's power was real, and see that it was evident, even in His death. As Jesus hung on the cross, darkness fell over all the land, "for the sun had stopped shining." (Luke 23:45). As He breathed His last, "the earth shook and the rocks split." The earth itself groaned at the death of its Master. Creation held its breath as the Creator took His last. Friends, this is power. In our meditations today, let us not forget that we worship the Lord of All Power, who volunteered to make Himself nothing for us.

And lastly, I encourage you to remember that the cross was not the end. In the midst of sorrow which accompanies the remembrance of our Lord's death, we have joy and hope. We celebrate Christ's death in anticipation of His resurrection, the final triumph of our Lord over sin and death:

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,

because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor will yo let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the path of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

(Psalm 16:9-11)