Friday, March 25, 2005
Good Friday
This would have to be my favorite day of the Christian Year. I enjoy Christmas, and I enjoy the feelings of Easter Morning, but Good Friday really brings it home to me.
Jesus Died. A man, who had done nothing wrong, died. and no matter what your belief about that man, its incontrovertable fact that he was crucified, and he died believeing that doing so he was able to save you.
If thats all you're willing to accept then so be it and I pray that you will move on to that next step about believing who he was and exactly why he allowed that to happen.
And make no mistake, Jesus ALLOWED it. I can scarecly imagine it. You created everything that has been created. you have the power to change/do anything you want to. your creations are far beneath you. you are without equal.
Then imagine that you loved your creation so much that you were willing to humble yourself, that you were willing to throw off every power all your glory and be born in a body that is flesh and blood. to give up all that to live among the things you had created.
As if that wasnt enough, You knew that in the end you had to let yourself be killed by your own creation. The Creator, The Most High, the most powerful, wonderful, unexplinable being in existence allows himself to be whipped beaten flogged, humiliated...HURT by the things of clay he made, And then nailed to a cross to be killed. How could you stand that? how could you resist the urge to make it all stop in a flash? Jesus could have called down all the legions of heaven to destroy those who meant him harm. but he didnt.
He ALLOWED himself to be killed. The Creator Killed by the Creation to save them from themselves.
"Hands that flung stars into space
to cruel nails surrendered."
But more than actually being killed when you could save yourself... you are betrayed by the ones you trusted most. Your Friends abandon you for fear of their own lives, and your best friend says three times that he never knew you. Never.
Then worst of all. In the hour of your greatest need. when you are in unimaginable pain, hanging there exposed to the elements and to the world. the one thing that you could always count on.. your Father. he abandons you too.
God the Father...must abandon his only son. Must sit idly by and watch him die. His people who he had shepherded across the centuries killing your son. can you imagine the pain and anguish? of just an ordinary father having to stand by and watch his son die? then give that father the power of all creation and more, The restraint is incredible. He could have lashed out and scoured all creation for daring to kill his beloved Son.
Here is a part from our service order from this mornings service (its a common one for Good Friday services). To me these words really hit home. Although it is Jesus speaking, I hear it clearly as God the Father. This is a father in mourning, you can hear the anguish, the pain and the anger.
EDIT: I couldnt find the service order, but found a similar 'reproach' on the net
Oh my people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you out of Egypt, from slavery to freedom: yet you led your Saviour to the cross. For forty years I led you safely through the desert. I fed you with manna from heaven, and brought you to a land of plenty; but you led your Saviour to the cross.
What more could I have done for you? Oh my people. I planted you as my fairest vine,
but you yielded only bitterness. and you pierced your Saviour with a lance. I opened the sea before you: but you opened his side with a spear. Oh My people.
Oh My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
I gave you saving water from the rock: but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.
I gave you a royal sceptre: but you gave me a crown of thorns.
I raised you to the heights of majesty: but you raised me high on a cross.
Oh My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
With eternal love have I loved you: but you raised your Saviour on the cross.
My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you? Answer me!
Oh My people.
When he says 'Oh my people' I can only imagine the sorrow. the betrayal he must feel.
Our church is pretty traditional. but in this liturgy I feel there is something there, not just sticking to it for a sense of history, but there is a reverence to it.
During the service there was a song played. Now i am not a great fan of modern Christian music, just as im not a great fan of pop stuff. but this song really got its message across to me and I'll end with it today. Its by Nichole Nordeman, and It's called 'Why'
We rode into town the other day
Just me and my Daddy
He said I'd finally reached that age
And I could ride next to him on a horse
That of course was not quite as wide
We heard a crowd of people shouting
And so we stopped to find out why
And there was that man
That my dad said he loved
But today there was fear in his eyes
So I said "Daddy, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why is He dressed in that bright purple robe?
I'll bet that crown hurts Him more than He shows
Daddy, please can't you do something?
He looks as though He's gonna cry
you said he was stronger than all of those guys
addy, please tell me why
Why does everyone want him to die?"
Later that day the sky grew cloudy
And Daddy said I should go inside
Somehow he knew things would get stormy
Boy was he right
But I could not keep from wondering
If there was something he had to hide
So after he left I had to find out
I was not afraid of getting lost
So I followed the crowds
To a hill where I knew men had been killed
And I heard a voice come from the cross
And it said, "Father, why are they screaming?
Why are the faces of some of them beaming?
Why are they casting their lots for My robe?
This crown of thorns hurts Me more than it shows
Father, please can't You do something?
I know that You must hear My cry
I thought I could handle the cross of this size
Father, remind Me why
Why does everyone want Me to die?
When will I understand why?"
"My precious Son, I hear them screaming
I'm watching the face of the enemy beaming
But soon I will clothe You in robes of My own
Jesus, this hurts Me much more than You know
But this dark hour I must do nothing
Though I've heard Your unbearable cry
The power in Your blood destroys all of the lies
Soon You'll see past their unmerciful eyes
Look there below, see the child
Trembling by her father's side
Now I can tell You why
She is why You must die"
Thank you Jesus.
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