A day for reflection
Good Friday is the most solemn day for Christians. This day is known as Good Friday, It is termed as ‘good’, ‘best’ and the ‘blessed’ because It is the day on which Jesus died on the cross. God's Friday may have become Good Friday as "God be with you" became "goodbye". Or the word Kar in German or Care in the sense mourning in English may have changed to Good. Mourning Friday may have become Good Friday. So perhaps Good Friday was originally God’s Friday. However the death and resurrection of Jesus is the most sacred moment and marked as a turning point in the history of the world. We believe that God incarnate suffered and died on the cross as a propitiation for the sins of all mankind. Non Christians view it with compassion as the unmerited suffering of an exceptional individual who was guiltless. The question is Why the most unique and compassionate Person who ever walked on the face of this earth was crucified?
Jesus faced the cup of God’s wrath upon sin on that hideous cross. It is incredible to consider all that He endured in those 18 hours. The physical suffering was horrific but the spiritual war within the three hours of darkness is something we cannot comprehend. In those three hours, when utter darkness engulfed the cross, Jesus faced the sins of the world placed upon Him. Hell was unleashed to vent its furry against the Son of God. Two thousand years have passed since the Crucifixion Day, yet the Bible account enables us to visualize the event with a great deal of accuracy. It was a turbulent Day in Israel. An execution was taking place, a surging crowd stood by. It was the eve of a great annual festival that had brought thousands to Jerusalem. The earth had been rocked by an earthquake. The sky was darkened by a supernatural eclipse. There were three crosses on Golgotha. On the right and on the left were two robbers crucified for rebellion and murder. On the center cross hung a sinless Sufferer! The world knew not that Jesus was dying for the sins of the world.
Jesus spoke seven times during the closing moments on the Cross. The seven utterances of Jesus from the cross are known of eternal significance to those who listen to them, a heroic confrontation of evil inspiring millions the world over. The words which Jesus uttered on the Cross are worthy of special consideration because of who uttered them, where they were uttered, why they were spoken, and what they mean. They are precious because they are deep expressions of the Eternal son of God in His time of terrible agony in those moments when He actually paid the price of our redemption.
First Jesus Speaks to Father. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. In the midst of his unbearable suffering, the heart of Jesus was focused on others rather than himself. Here we see His unconditional Love. Then Jesus Speaks to the Criminal on the Cross.” I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” One of the criminals who was crucified with Christ, had recognized who Jesus was and expressed faith in him as Savior. Here we see grace poured out through faith, as Jesus assured the dying man of his forgiveness and eternal salvation. When He saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, " woman, here is your son," and to the John, "Here is your mother.” Jesus, looking down from the cross, was still filled with the concerns of a son for the earthly needs of his loved ones and a new relationship we have in Jesus and with one to another. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” In the darkest hours of his suffering, Jesus cried out the opening words of Psalm 22. And although much has been suggested regarding the meaning of this phrase, it was quite apparent the agony Christ felt as he expressed separation from God. Here we see the Father turning way from the Son as Jesus bore the full weight of our sin. Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty." And finally he said, "It is finished!" Jesus knew he was suffering the crucifixion for a purpose. These three words were packed with meaning, for what was finished here was not only Christ's earthly life, not only his suffering and dying, not only the payment for sin and the redemption of the world—but the very reason and purpose he came to earth was finished. His final act of obedience was complete. The Scriptures had been fulfilled and the Last Words, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. We see his complete trust in the Father. Jesus entered death in the same way he lived each day of his life, offering up his life as the perfect sacrifice and placing himself in God's hands. Immediately the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart, the graves broke open, and many of God's people who had died were raised to life.
Now Christ is our Mediator between God and man. We have a new way to go into the presence of God. Bible says the greatest service one can do is to give their life for another; Jesus gave his life for all, his loneliness, isolation of shame and humiliation of betrayal and despair on the cross. Jesus suffers it all and endures it all in silence. As the crushing weight of the cross is placed on Jesus' shoulders, he took the pain of the entire world. Jesus carried his cross for ALL who suffer. He said "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you Rest." “
When we embrace Jesus in our heart, we discover the most authentic responses to the suffering of others. The tears shed by the millions who mourn their dead throughout this world can make our soil rich with the fruits of compassion, forgiveness, gentleness, and healing touch of Jesus. He who is the first-born of all creation, in whom all things were created in heaven and on earth” - stands before us stripped of all power and dignity, exposed to the world - completely vulnerable. Here is the greatest mystery of all time: God chooses to reveal God's divine glory in humiliation and poverty - where all beauty is gone; all eloquence is silenced; all admiration is withdrawn - it is here that God chooses to manifest His unconditional love for us through His son Jesus. He's done nothing wrong. He's committed no sin. The excruciating pain in his body, the abandonment of his friends, and even of his Heavenly Father, are all gift - freely given so that death may not have the last word.
As we gaze up at the dying Jesus, we realize that it is only because he was willing to be nailed to a cross that we don't have to live lives of desperation. The darkness in our hearts that makes us surrender to the power of death, the darkness in our society which makes us victims of violence, war and destruction has been dispelled by the light that shines forth from the One who gave his life as complete gift. The death of Jesus calls out to us to choose life in the light of eternity. A life of compassion not resentment, a word of acceptance not rejection, a heart of forgiveness not revenge, a life to share not hoard.. Jesus' death springs open that door in our hearts where God has written God's Law - the Law that calls us to choose life over death, and love over evil. The way to conquer evil is through good. Similarly, violence can be overcome only by non-violence and hatred by love. Good Friday and Easter gives us the assurance that Jesus has defeated the power of Evil and death. Hence we can demonstrate the divine love for the unlovely, peace, joy and happiness that is deep and lasting, kind word in response to insult, gentleness when our world is harsh. May God’s divine love, gives us His marvelous grace to overcome the Sinful nature, Evil practices, corruption, intolerance, injustice, deception, exploitation, discrimination, and the selfishness which dominates the world in this Holy season.
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Bishop M.A. Lalachan ( - )
Bishop M.A. Lalachan is serving as an Executive Director with Transformation India Movement (TIM) based in Patna, Bihar. He also was involved with Believers Church / Gospel for Asia for more than 25 years in different states in India: Jharkhand, Maharastra, and Bihar. From Nagpur, he helped Believers Church establish work in Nagpur, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Aurangabad, and Mumbai.He has mentored and developed hundreds of Clergy, students, pastors, and church workers. Currently his main focus is Church planting and training.