Lent Day #39 - Good Friday

Matthew 26:62-66 (ESV)
62 And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, "I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?" They answered, "He deserves death."

THOUGHTS:
Today is "Good Friday". Why do we call the day Jesus died "good"?

It is a day that proclaims God's purpose of loving and redeeming the world
through the cross of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a day that is good because
God was drawing the world to God's self in Christ. As seen in John's gospel,
particularly, God was in control. God was not making the best of a bad
situation, but was working out God's intention for the world — winning salvation
for all people. We call it "good" because we look backward at the crucifixion
through the lens of Easter! (From http://archives.umc.org/frames.asp?url=http%3A//www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp%3Fact%3Dreader%26item_id=2619&loc_id=9%2C10,32,49)

There is a great article by George S. Johnson in "The Lutheran" this month about the 'other' reason Jesus died on the cross. It acknowledges that Jesus died to atone for our sins, but it also points out that that isn't the reason that the Roman government hung him on a cross. The article focuses on looking at the reasons that scripture gives for how Jesus ends up on the cross, including:

• advocating that there are things more important than rules;
• violating Jewish laws governing actions on the Sabbath;
• blasphemous teachings about forgiveness;
• confronting the system of domination that violated God's intentions; and
• exposing corruption in religion.

When you read your Bible, do you see Jesus as subversive and countercultural?

Those in power saw Jesus as a threat to the peace and security of their society, yet many of us prefer to picture Jesus in a nice peaceful role. When we receive communion, do we remember that the death of Jesus was the consequence for confronting oppression?


A couple of quotes from the article:

"The proclamation of the gospel includes a declaration of God's justice: God's action to bring about an alternative to violence, greed, hunger and domination."


"As I read the Scriptures, I'm reminded that Jesus died because he was considered a threat to a society that neglected the poor and worshiped the sword."

I can't help but notice a parallel to a martyr from a more recent time: Martin Luther King, Jr. also died challenging the status quo. His powerful words show he knew he was well outside the bounds of the established system:

"These are extreme times, and the question isn't whether or not we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will you be extremists for love or for hatred?"

Read Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV):

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

What is your cross?

PRAYER:

God, today as I ask that you help me to understand what cross you've given me to bear. Help me to faithfully carry out the tasks that you have given to this servant of yours. For the sake of Jesus. AMEN.