"A good Friday"

John 19

Pastor Tom Johnson, April 17, 2014
 

In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul says that his primary goal in his ministry is to preach the Cross. He writes, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor 2:2). An overstatement? Not at all. The Christian faith has as its core the Cross of Christ. We call this day “Good Friday;” for this is the day Jesus was crucified on the cross on Golgotha. The word “good” seems a little strange. The night before, Jesus prays that He might be spared the crucifixion. He prays, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). Mysteriously, it was the Father’s will even though it grieved him.  And, although Jesus did not want to suffer and die, his love for us and his desire to please the Father were stronger. The book of Hebrews says that it was “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Heb. 12:2). Remarkably, for Jesus, Good Friday was joyful Friday. The Heavenly Father answers Jesus’ prayer for His will to be done. And so it is. In John’s Gospel reading this evening, there are those constant reminders that Scripture is being fulfilled by His crucifixion and death. God’s will is done—his will is accomplished even though the world is at its blackest—even though humanity is at its worst.

Meditate on the contrasts with me. We see humanity’s worst treatment of God; we see God’s best treatment of humankind. We see witness the world’s worst transgression—crucifying the Son of God; we see God’s greatest Gift—victory over all our sins. The innocent Blood that day should have cried out for God’s vengeance and retribution; instead his Blood cries out peace and forgiveness. The inscription above Jesus reads, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The chief priests want it changed to “This man said, I am King of the Jews.” We don’t know if Pilate put “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” as a sick joke or because of a breakdown in communication. But for whatever reason, it is correct for He is the King, not only of the Jews but of heaven and earth. The soldiers want chance and fate to decide who gets Jesus’ tunic—they are gambling over a condemned Man’s possession. Jesus, on the other hand, is not on the cross by chance or fate but by God’s eternal decree—He isn’t gambling but purchasing the souls of all condemned humanity.

Only five disciples had the courage to stand at the foot of the cross that day. You think our attendance is sparse tonight! We have easily surpassed the attendance of five that Good Friday. Four are women—three of whom are named Mary. And one is John. But John does not identify himself by his name. He identifies himself as “the disciple whom [Jesus] loved.” John could have identified himself as “the disciple who had the courage to be there” or “the disciple who did not betray or deny the Lord.” Instead, John identifies himself humbly and evangelistically as “the disciple whom He loved.” All of us should boldly identify ourselves as just that—those whom Jesus loves. Just look upon the Cross.

Back to contrasts...

The world tears away a mother’s son—Mary watches as her own flesh and blood is executed. Jesus, on the other hand, gives John His mother. And, by His death, makes us all true sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father. The world offered Jesus sour wine—vinegar—while He suffered and died. Jesus, on the other hand, offers us the best wine at Cana and His true Body and Blood with the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Jesus drinks only the bitterness of this world—wine that has lost all its sweetness. But we drink the best of wine—the bitterness of Christ’s suffering and death but also with the sweetness of God’s forgiveness, new life, and eternal salvation.

The only thing good, by the world’s standard, that Jesus receives is a good burial—a good priest to bury him, a good embalming, and a good tomb. Jesus, however, gives us new life, new bodies, and a new home in heaven. It is Good Friday, indeed.