As a child, as the reality of Christ's sacrifice became more clear. My childlike heart didn't feel there was much to celebrate on "Good Friday". He took the beating for my transgressions. He wore my shame. He carried my cross. Mine. Yours. Ours.
How is there anything "fair" in that transaction? I can answer that one! There's not. Nothing fair, but a huge debt to be reconciled. Our God is love, but HE is holy and just, too. Justice demanded the debt be paid. Holiness demanded the sacrifice.
I am no longer a child. I have celebrated a few more Easters with every trip around the sun. My boys are men. Perhaps things become a little more clear with each passing year. Although they are men, I would still die for them. In their place... without hesitation... if it came to a choice. Call it a mother's love, but their father would do the same. To spare them suffering and give them more life, it is more of a reflexive response than a choice.
What if you must allow one suffer to save the rest? How do you choose "The One"? God sent His Son. Sent him! Remember, Christmas? At the perfect time, by HIS perfect design.
As Max Lucado wrote in his book, "He chose the nails." Nothing but love carried Jesus through the betrayal in the olive grove, the farce of a trial, the whippings, the journey up the hill with the heavy wooden cross. Only love could have carried that burden. Only love.
The same angels, who tended him in the desert after his battle with Satan, were on standby... ready to do His bidding. Jesus didn't call them. Jesus spent his time on the cross concerned with the lost souls to his left and to his right. In His brokenness, He was still handing out life rafts. Only Jesus!
I can't imagine the Father's pain, too. In the wee hours of the morning Jesus prayed for him to "remove the cup" if there was another way. Today, it might have sounded more like, "Dad, surely you have a better idea." The answer meant He would suffer a day like no other. Most humans would have died from the beatings alone. He suffered... and then suffered some more.
His time in Gethsemane was unique. In the scriptures, when Jesus really needed time alone with the Father, he would go alone. He went into the desert to fast and pray before dueling with Satan. Jesus went into the wilderness to pray after his beloved cousin, John, was beheaded because of testimony to Jesus as the Messiah. He chose to spend time with the Father alone when the load was extra heavy. Not the night he was taken. That night, he took his closest friends.
Why did he take them on that night? They were obviously not able to stay awake. Still, he brought them along. Were they there to help record the events of the evening? Perhaps, partially, but his frustration at their sleeping makes me wonder if his human beating heart longed to have close friends near as the burden grew heavier and heavier... and the plan for redemption was unfolding. Only He could stop it. Only He could complete the assignment. His choice.
I do not know the answers, but pondering the questions helps me see Jesus more clearly. 33 years in human skin was about over, but the exit strategy was not going to be easy. In fact, it was going to be brutal.
When Jesus was arrested, there was not a struggle.
The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove -John 18:3
Judas! Peter was angry. Peter went rogue and sliced off the ear of the servant to the High Priest.
"Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave." -John 18:10
Oh, passionate Peter! Jesus wasn't an orphan, child or a widow to be defended. Jesus was a soldier on a mission. Jesus healed the servant's ear.
One more tiny little healing miracle before He went willingly into custody. One more look into Judas's betraying eyes before the suffering began. Don't we all have a little Judas in us? Do we offer a kiss before we betray Him, too? Is it for less than 30 pieces of silver?
Jesus willingly went to the cross. He did it for you, for me and for all of the other souls who need forgiveness and mercy. We can look to the cross and live, if we say yes to the gift.
How can we not celebrate knowing one cross paid all of our debts? Not just paid in full but into the future, too! Gentiles and Jews can be redeemed. For all who look and live... believe, seek forgiveness and receive?
One God-man endured the punishment and took our place out of the purest love this world has ever known. That, my gratitude chasing friend, is the "good" in "Good Friday". When Jesus said, "It is finished.", he meant it!
The temple curtain ripped. The earth shook. The shofar blew. The Passover lamb was slain in the temple, but the Lamb on the hill on the cross changed everything. To God be the Glory! (Thanks Earworm for singing that song!)
Today, I am grateful for the good in "Good Friday".
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