This morning Tom and I attended “Good Friday” worship service at our church. But what exactly is “good” about this day?
As Reverend Cathy led us through the violent and painful story of Jesus’ arrest, interrogation and crucifixion. Singing t he hymn “Were you there?” and hearing current readings helped us make made the connections to the same tragic violence and pain that happens today.
My life motto, is to focus on St. Paul’s words: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” What, then, is honest, valuable, or truthful about this horrible story. What is “Good” about “Good Friday?”
Let’s look at three of the statements that stand out for me, in John’s record of that painful time.
First: Jesus said “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Pilate’s responsed: What is truth? (John 18:37-3)
When faced with suffering, violence, cruelty, hate, we ask “Why? Why do you let this happen, God? Our world offers so many different answers. And we ask, “What is truth? The following are some of those answers we receive.
- From friends and family: For us: “It’s your fault? You made poor or bad choices. For Jesus: “You should have stayed home in Gallilee where you were safe?”
- From the government rulers: For us: “You’re in trouble for seeking justice. You’re a rebel. Rebel’s destroy our peaceful society.” The Romans said the same things to Jesus.
- From society’s leaders: For us: “You’re upsetting the status quo. We’ve done it this way for a long time. Jesus would have heard, “You’re preaching blasphemy. Love your enemy. Are you crazy? Eat with sinners. Heal people on the Sabbath. You didn’t keep the law.”
- From society in general. For us: “There has to be someone to blame. You’re the best candidate. For Jesus: We’ve always bought forgiveness from God with a sacrifice. God needs a sacrifice in order to forgive us. You will do Jesus.”
- Others in society who believe in a loving God answer the question of Jesus’ crucifixion with: God loved and loves humanity so much, that God came in the human Jesus to walk with us and teach us how to love. When we refused to listen, God in Jesus willingly went to the cross forgiving us. God wanted us to receive the message, that even the worst that we can do will not wipe out God’s love for us. God’s love cannot be defeated. God not only prevails over death but brings new life.
What is truth?
As a Christian, as a follower of Jesus, I have chosen to follow answer number five. Jesus said that truly following him can (not must) require laying down our lives. For some, that is the actual physical fact of dying as we seek justice in love. For most of us it means using our time, our money, our talents and our love to care for others – family, friends, strangers.
The second statement in John’s story gives us Jesus words from the cross. “Why have you forsaken me?
For all of us, including me, there are times when we feel as if God has forsaken us. The reality is there is suffering and death in this world. There are people taken over by their greed for power or money or status. Why doesn’t God wipe them out. Even the humanity of Jesus didn’t know the answer to that question. We do know that when tempted by the devil to have that kind of power, Jesus said, “No. The scriptures say we are not to test God’s eternal love for us.” God in Jesus did say, I will be with you always, always. We are not alone.
The third statement that stands out for me is “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
We are forgiven. Out of his human agony, God spoke such amazing words of love. Love that is an ideal that we can only reach for. Love that continues even with our rejection of God, our desire to kill God. Love that continues in this world and the next.
Yes, today is Good Friday because this story tells us that God loves us with a love so strong that nothing, absolutely nothing can kill God’s love. As we mourn Jesus’ death we know that Sunday will come. Mary will come to the tomb and hear the blessed news. “He is risen.” God was not defeated and will not be defeated. Thanks be to God.
Good Friday reminds me that I believe that someday we humans will learn to love one another, to step outside of ourselves as followers of Jesus. Then and only then will our world have a true and lasting peace. For me that is the “Goodness” in the horrific story of Good Friday. Amen