Good Friday: To The Cross

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Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said,“I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said,“It is finished.”With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:28-30 (NIV)

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Yesterday, we reflected on the lessons that Jesus taught at the dinner table. We reflected on the poignancy of the Last Supper and even though Jesus knew what was coming, He was still serving others. In the hours that followed, a great darkness swept that place in the events that led up to and included the death of an innocent man, not merely blameless but the Son of God. A death so horrific and painful that it was reserved for the most violent criminals who committed the most heinous crimes. Death by way of crucifixion. Just a few short days earlier, Jesus had been welcomed to Jerusalem like a King, the people expecting Him to come and save them from the Roman oppressors. Now, He was beaten, humiliated and treated as the least of the lowest.

On that day, all those years ago, there was nothing ‘good’ for the disciples and followers of Christ. It was a gloomy day, a day of sadness, of frustration. A sense of failure undoubtedly would have spread through the disciples and followers. Where there had once been joy, hope and love; now only fear remained. The disciples feared for their lives. Even Peter, the one Jesus had the closest relationship with, turned his back on Him that day. In the speed at which the events had unfolded, it was easy for them to forget that Christ had foretold of His resurrection on the third day. Caught up in the humanness of the events, the disciples had much to despair about. As Jesus carried His cross to the place of death, he was whipped, beaten and spat on. Some jeered and taunted Him. Others wept. Many times, He fell with the weight and the pain. When they reached the hill, they nailed Him to the cross. After much scorn from some and absolute despair from others, not least His mother, Mary, Jesus said: “It is finished!” (John 19:30) and truly the disciples believed it.

The story doesn’t end there.

To truly understand the gravity of that day, to understand the bittersweet nature of the events on that day, it needs the proper context. If His death had been the end of the story, Jesus would have gone down as another martyr of faith. But we know this not to be true. In just two days’ time, against all the odds, He would rise again.

So, what is ‘good’ about Good Friday?

Death to Death.

There on the cross, the power of the devil was crushed. In the past, the devil condemned us to death but with the Love shown on the cross, death was defeated. Jesus conquered death because He was sinless. There is no more death for the believer. Death swallowed Jesus, but He was too much for it. Death is the devil’s most powerful, terrifying weapon against us. At the cross, Christ defeated Satan on behalf of us helpless sinners.

The Path was Restored.

There on the cross, the curse of sin is reversed. We were created by God's love to eternally live with him. We chose to disobey him, to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. So, sin entered the world and forced a gap between us and God. Jesus came and through the cross provided us a way back to God.

Reflection and Response.

It is with this complete story that we can truly reflect and respond to the events of that horrific day. It is through the knowing of what is to come, of walking with Jesus, down the Via Dolorosa on the way to the cross, that we can truly experience a tiny bit of the magnitude of what took place that day. It is through taking the time to be with Jesus and meditating on the events of what happened that we can begin to understand Good Friday.

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What’s so good about Good Friday?

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To the Cross

Today, on this 'Good' Friday, He is calling out to you.

'My child, my child come to me and I will give you rest.

Come to the foot of the cross and lay it all before me.

All your sin and shame.

All your worry, grief and pain.

Lay it all down. Come to the cross.'

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Dear Lord,

On this Good Friday, I think about the way of Christ.

The path Jesus took that day.

The horror that played out in front of the disciples.

The pain He went through.

I am in awe of the greatness of your love.

I am but worthy and yet you saved me.

Wow! There are no words.

Lord, help me to see this Easter differently so that I

may have a new sense of purpose in my life.

In the most holy name of Jesus I pray,

Amen