That Day
Today is “Good Friday”.
On this day, we commemorate the day our Lord Jesus Christ submitted His mighty Self to the insults and agony of the cross.
How can we begin to comprehend the work done on that day? Many believers throughout the millennia have struggled with how to understand just what was accomplished through this act of love.
Scholars debate how His sacrifice works, in terms of our salvation. There are at least seven theories of the atonement! So if it puzzles you, you are not alone.
However, even though we may not enjoy the deeper understanding that theologians possess, every one of us can simply open the Book and see for ourselves what occurred.
May I encourage you today, on Good Friday, to read for yourself the account of our Lord’s death? This is an excellent way to participate. Contemplate this act of love and obedience—behold the Man, for yourself.
The crucifixion is recorded in:
- Luke 24,
- Matthew 27,
- Mark 15, and
- John 19.
Each writer focuses on slightly different aspects of that day, so reading all four accounts gives you the clearest view into the happenings of this Good day.
A few New Testament writers have given us further insights. The writer of Hebrews has this to share:
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3
Lingering for a moment on verse 2, we read how Christ endured this humiliating spectacle. We read that He looked forward to joy. It was set before Him. He knew how to endure this present horror. It’s not all about what’s in front of us, now.
The Lord Jesus despised the shame.
Shame
There was a lot of it. Christ not only bravely faced this most cruel torture, He suffered these additional abuses of insults hurled at Him, left and right.
Can you imagine the mocking derision, sustained for so many hours? What about those soldiers play-acting? How they mocked our King, pretending obeisance to Him even as they clad him in a robe of mock-royalty, crowned Him with the crown of thorns, and beat him with their fists.
And then the people. Let by the triumphant religious leaders, the crowds taunted our Lord along the route, and at Calvary itself.
Come down, from the cross, if you are really the Son of God, they mocked. We’ll believe it when we see it.
The hateful scorn! The contemptuous, arrogant abuse! Being spat upon!
It’s too much. They went too far. So says me. So, maybe, says you. Not so, says the Lord, Christ.
What, in fact, were His words from the tree?
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.”
Luke 24:33-35
At any moment He could have screamed: “Enough!” and displayed His mighty power, easily decimating these foes.
But no, this was not God’s way. His plan involved not a terrifying display of domination over mankind, but a redemption, instead.
He endured all of this so that we who believe might resume our prior state, before the fall, as the sons and daughters of God. His desire was to be our Elder Brother, first born from the dead!
Forgiveness
They’ve hurt you. I know they have. You’ve been deeply disappointed, perhaps even betrayed. You’ve been spurned, ignored, rejected. How do I know? Because you are a person. It’s part of living, as a human on the planet. All of those imperfect people have sinned against you. And in your sin, “imperfect you” has caused others pain, too.
But hardest to bear, in this arena of sinning/pain/how-in-the-world-can-I-forgive-them struggle, is not when we have been hurt. Nope.
The thing nearly unbearable to us, is when the sin was committed against somebody we love. We’d take their place rather than bear with the injustice of when our loved one is injured, sinned against, and hurting.
In the same way, how do we imagine Father God felt at this abuse His dearly-beloved son was enduring? How could He forgive this insult to the Dearest One of all? Imagine the patience of our God, to view this debacle, and withold the wrath so very much deserved.
Enter, Jesus. He, the strongest and kindest of all, requests mercy. Don’t hold it against them. Forgive them, Father. They don’t know what they are doing.
What? How in the world. Nobody but Him.
Praying for the perpetrator of evil takes a couple of steps. We don’t start there. In order to pray for them, you yourself have had to forgive them already. We can’t bring the offender to our Father if we still harbor bitterness deep inside.
Here, Christ is demonstrating both His love (having forgiven already) and His mercy. By actually interceding for these people, even while in torment, His request is profound: Father, grant me this request: have mercy upon their souls.
Thus the glory of God, revealed in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
And His beautiful countenance, crowned with thorns, bloodied and grimacing, was never more beautiful.
May we shine like Him.
May His example propel us forward. May His prayer be our own:
Forgive them, my Father. Please, let it go.
Perfection
When faced with something this extraordinary, we can, if we choose, remain ambivalent. Yet, we can also choose to respond to the great heart of Christ!
This Good Friday we can walk away unchanged. We can attend a Good Friday service and feel good and sorry for our sins. Then, go home, and turn on the telly.
Yet, might there be more? Might we find our souls quickened within? Is it time to do more with this most perfect example of love?
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
1 Peter 5:10
“We comforted and encouraged you, urging you to live in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
1 Thessalonians 2:12
“…bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
Colossians 3:13
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32
Is it not the quickening of His Spirit upon our own, which urges us onward and upward? (“Come further up, come further in!” ―
Having spent the last 40 or so days in a period of introspection (Lenten Season), let us pray that our spirits have become more aware of His own. Perhaps we are ready to be corrected, chastened even, as His dearly beloved children, perhaps ready to hearken to the example and the command of our King.
Our hearts cry: Bring us, too, into that higher realm of love, completed, finished, perfected. Help us forgive those who have trespassed against us. Give us Your heart of love. So fill us with Your Spirit, that empowered by You, we may obey Your great command. Amen.