Good Friday . . . Seriously? For Whom?

Considering Truths During Lent

Today's Devotional Thoughts

It goes without saying that the first "Good" Friday was obviously not so good for everyone. Christians throughout the ages since Christ's death on the cross "celebrate" the Lord's death with good reason--if the word "celebration" is appropriate . . . but a celebration on that first "Good" Friday? Doubt it.

You want a really good reason to celebrate on March 25? Try this . . . 

Today's Scriptural Truth

"In the 6th month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her & said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The word is with you . . . Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child & give birth to a son, & you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great & will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, & He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.'"  Luke 1:26-28, 30b-33

More Devotional Thoughts

Remember the day you found out that you & your wife were going to have a baby? I'll never forget it. It was truly a night for celebration! 

You know what I learned today? "The date of the Annunciation falls on March 25, because the Ancient Church believed the crucifixion occurred on that date. In antiquity, people linked the day of a person's conception with the day of his or her death. Thus, in the Annunciation, the Church joined together both the incarnation of Jesus & the atonement He accomplished." *

So today is "Good" Friday, & today is March 25. A day to celebrate the announcement of a pretty special, one-of-a-kind conception . . . A day to . . . wait . . . what? Announcement of the death of that baby?

Well, of course we don't think about a baby dying on a cross. That would just plain be . . . gross. Perverted, wouldn't it?

We've been spending the last 40 days--well, many of us, I think--pondering the death of a grown-up . . . the death of a man . . . Jesus . . . true man . . . true God . . . arms out-stretched in a gory scene of Roman capital punishment.

Not everyone standing there may have had thoughts of staring at a man.

What was Mary thinking?

Where did the time go, Mary? It's been barely 30 years since the angel stood in your peasant's hut . . . Stood in your presence & announced news beyond all comprehension . . . beyond all joy . . . beyond all happiness . . . That was a really, really "Good" day.

Where did those 30 years go, Mary? How fast they went by--it seems like a blur! What happened to that beautiful baby boy, wrapped in cloths, lying in a cattle stall, just a few miles south of Golgotha? THAT was a really, really "Good" day.

What have they done to your son, Mary? He's been bruised & battered almost beyond recognition . . . No one, not even the criminals on either side of him should have to endure what he's been through these past few hours . . . a few hours that have stretched on & on & on & on . . . 

Until your baby boy . . . your precious baby boy . . . the One who was prophesied to save His people from their sins . . . to die on a cross like this one . . . in your wildest imaginations . . .  a death so horrific . . . a death that was necessary for you, too, Mary . . . for your sins, too . . . 

And for my sins, Mary . . . for our sins . . . for ALL of our sins, Mary . . . What weight He must be carrying . . . No, this is NOT a "Good" Friday . . . 

More Scriptural Truths

"When Jesus saw His mother there, & the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son,' & to the disciple, Here is your mother.'"  John 19:26-27a

More Devotional Thoughts

Her son's words to John were like a dagger to the heart . . . What was it the old man had said to her & Joseph in the Temple? "And a sword will pierce your own soul too?" [Luke 2:35b] 

Yes, she knew He would one day die Would WILLINGLY die . . . But like this? One day He would be gone . . . And this would be how she would remember Him? . . . No, no, no, no, no . . . This is NOT a "Good" Friday.

One More Scriptural Truth

"When He had received the drink, Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that, He bowed His head & gave up His spirit."  John 19:30

Some Last Devotional Thoughts

And then the dreaded words . . . It is finished . . . His head drops . . . She sobs . . . She thinks that she hears John sob . . . An exclamation from a Roman soldier . . . Deep, chilling darkness . . . Even an eerie moment of silence from the religious leaders . . . No sounds of celebration now . . . They pause . . . They seem to shiver . . . They drift off . . . Mary hears wailing . . . Crying . . . But her sobs quietly fade as she ponders her son . . . 

Her son is sagging on the cross . . . a bloody mess to be sure . . . Her bloody, battered Son to be sure . . . It is finished . . . It has NOT been a "Good Friday" for her Son . . . 

It has Not been a "Good Friday" for John & the others, wherever they may be . . . 

It has NOT been a "Good Friday" for her . . . and yet . . . 

And yet . . . 

For the briefest of moments she thinks to herself . . . They didn't TAKE my Son's life . . . He GAVE His life . . . 

And there were prophecies . . . There were promises . . . There were HIS promises . . . 

Of something good . . . Something GREAT . . . 

SOMETHING SO MUCH GREATER THAT SHE FEELS MOVED TO TEARS AGAIN!

. . . but right now it doesn't feel good . . . She can't remember the last time she felt good . . . Can't remember the last time she felt this bad . . . 

IT HURTS SO BAD!

And as John puts his arm around her & gently leads her off the hill of skulls . . . 

It's all she can do to place one heavy foot in front of the other . . . She feels like she's wandering in a daze . . . enshrouded in grief . . . in fog . . . Where is Peter? . . . Where is Joseph? Where is Jesus? What have they done to my Son? What will they do with His body?

It is a dark, dark Friday . . . She can't imagine Saturday . . . She can't even begin to think of . . . 

Sunday.

Today's Prayer *

Almighty God, graciously behold this Your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed & delivered into the hands of sinful men to suffer death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen.

* Source:  Treasury of Daily Prayer, (Concordia Publishing House), 2010.