Dr.
Fr. Davis George
On
a dark Friday two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. Powerful
members of the religious, political, and military communities colluded to strip
him naked, mock him publicly, and crucify him. What is Good Friday and why do we call Good Friday “good,” when
it is such a dark, bleak and painful event commemorating a day of suffering and
death of Jesus?
Good
Friday is a crucial day of the year because it celebrates the most momentous
weekend in the history of the world. Ever since Jesus died and was raised,
Christians have proclaimed the cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the
decisive turning point for all creation. Paul considered it to be “of first
importance” that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on
the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the
Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3). Paul said, “We preach Christ the crucified…Christ the
power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor 1:22) Cross has been the source of
strength, consolation and salvation to all those who endure suffering and face
challenges of life.
On
Good Friday we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by
crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1 Jn 1:10). It is followed by Easter, the glorious celebration of the
day Jesus was raised from the dead, heralding his victory over sin and death
and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by
faith (Rom 6:5).
1. Cross manifests the unconditional
love and forgiveness of God.
As it is written, “While we were yet
helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Why, one will hardly
die for a righteous man- though perhaps for a good man one will dare to die.
But, God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died
for us.”(Rom5:6-8) Again we read, “For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but
have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the
world, but to save the world through him.” (Jn 3:16-17) How true, “No greater love has no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn 15:13)
Before the Cross of Jesus, we apprehend in a way that we can
almost touch with our hands how much we are eternally loved; before the Cross
we feel that we are “children” and not “things” or “objects”. We were
ransomed not with silver and gold but with the precious blood of the Lamb
because we were created in his own image and likeness.
2. On the
cross, Jesus suffered so that we would not have to suffer.
There
is an inborn tendency to sin in every person. Like Adam and Eve, we refuse to
recognize God as God and we break his law repeatedly. To atone for our sins he
took on a human body and came to earth as Jesus. He lived the sinless life that
we should have lived, and died the death that we deserve to die. That is why
the apostle Paul declared that “there is therefore now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).
Pope Francis said that God placed on Jesus’ Cross all the weight
of our sins, all the injustices perpetrated by every Cain against his brother,
all the bitterness of the betrayal by Judas and denial by Peter, all the vanity
of tyrants, all the arrogance of false friends. It was a heavy Cross, like
night experienced by abandoned people, heavy like the death of loved ones,
heavy because it carries all the ugliness of evil. However, the Cross is also
glorious like the dawn after a long night, for it represents all the love of
God, which is greater than our iniquities and our betrayals. In the Cross we
see the monstrosity of man, when he allows evil to guide him; but we also see
the immensity of the mercy of God, who does not treat us according to our sins
but according to his mercy.
3.
Through the cross, we can be reconciled to God and each other.
Because
of our sins, we alienate ourselves from God and others, but Jesus saves us from
our sins in order to mend those relationships. That is why the Bible says, “For
it pleased the Father to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His
cross” (Col 1:19-20). In fact, Jesus’ reconciling powers will cause all
relational barriers to be torn down, including the barriers of ethnicity and
nationality (Rev 5:9-10). Today the world is torn by egoism, self
aggrandizement, pride, self righteousness, arrogance, political hegemony. We
need reconciliation and forgiveness and build a civilization of love. That is
what Jesus did on the cross. All his life he went about doing good; made the
lame walk, lepers clean, deaf hear, the dumb speak and even the dead were
brought back to life. He worked relentlessly for an inclusive society and paid
the price for it on the cross.
4.
Because of the cross and resurrection, we have hope for the future.
The
Bible connects Jesus’ crucifixion with his resurrection. After Jesus suffered
on the cross, he was buried, but on the third day he rose from the grave! When
he rose from the dead, he not only confirmed his divinity but declared that he
would return one day to make things right. He will return to disestablish evil,
sin, and death from their artificial throne, and establish himself as the true
King over a kingdom characterized by justice, peace, and love (Rev 21-22). The Bible
teaches that he alone can save (Acts 4:12) and that there is no sinner too bad
for him to save (1 Tim 1:15).
Good
Friday is a day to surrender our lives to Jesus who shed his blood that we may
have life eternal. Someone asked Jesus “how much do you love me?” Jesus
stretched out his arms on the cross and said “This much,” and died. Incredible
and amazing love. Unfathomable self sacrifice.
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