[Salvation]

The Word Among Us

Meditation: John 18:1–19:42

Good Friday

Into your hands I commend my spirit. (Psalm 31:6)

It’s Good Friday, the very day for which Jesus was born into the world. His whole life, everything he ever said or did, had been leading up to this day. Every miracle, every sermon, every word of forgiveness or challenge—none of them makes sense apart from the cross. And today, we are invited to join millions of people all over the world in gazing upon the Lamb who was slain for our sin.

So let’s follow Pilate’s words and “behold the man” (John 19:5). Come and behold the Christ in his humanity. Recall his humble beginnings as a newborn in a manger. Wonder at his hidden years as he grew in stature and grace.

Come and behold the One on whom the Holy Spirit rested as a dove. See him in his humility, trust, and surrender to his Father as he walked with God each and every day. Behold the One who prayed, “Into your hands I commend my spirit” (Psalm 31:6). See how this prayer, which he breathed with his dying breath, was but the full expression of a lifetime of yielding to his Father.

Come and behold the One who said, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Gaze upon the One who experienced hunger, thirst, and pain, both physically and spiritually. He came not to be served but to serve. He washed his friends’ feet. He dined with sinners and touched lepers. He poured out his life day after day for his people. And now here he is, crucified, betrayed, and abandoned. He is nailed to a cross, and he is still pouring out his life.

“Behold, your king!” (John 19:14). Before his pierced and bloodstained feet, we bow our knees, anticipating the day when every person will kneel before him. Look upon this ravaged rabbi, and see here your eternal King, the One through whom all things were created. See your high priest seated in heaven, even now constantly interceding for you, just as he did on the cross.

Behold Jesus. The sky blackens. The earth shakes. The rocks rend. His body lies still for now. His majesty is emptied but for a season. Here is your King.

“Jesus, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

[Salvation]

A Christian Pilgrim

THE DAY WHEN OUR CREATOR DIED

(A biblical refection on GOOD FRIDAY, 29th of March 2013)) 

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 

First Reading: Psalms: Ps 31:2,6,12-13,15-17,25; Second Reading: Heb 4:14-16;5:7-9; Gospel Reading: Jn 18:1-19:42

The Scripture Text

Behold, My servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. As many were astonished at him – his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men – so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which they have not heard they shall understand.

Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers dumb, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as of r his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of My people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the will of the LORD to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when he makes himself an offering, he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand; he shall see the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Is 52:13-53:12 RSV) 

Let the earth be silent today, for this is the day when its Creator died. His appearance was so marred by the crucifixion that He looked more like a sacrificed animal than a human being. He poured out His blood and gave His life as a substitute for the punishment we deserved. And though His Kingdom is not of this world, He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.

This King of kings came to us in humble circumstances, born in a manger, the son of a poor carpenter from a tiny village. He shared in the sorrows and grief of the poor, the sick, and the oppressed. He ministered to their needs. Yet, despite all His good deeds, He was despised and rejected by most of the religious and secular leaders of His day. He loved everyone He met and accepted invitations to eat with persons at every level in society. He wanted them to know how much the Father loved them. But in the end He was rejected. It even appeared as if God had abandoned Him.

Do we (you and I) really cherish the fact that it was for our sins that Jesus died? How much does this truth affect our daily life? Do we really know that, despite our failings, God ever loves us and calls each and every one of us to receive His love? Do we really love the Lamb of God who took responsibility for all our sins? He was innocent of any wrongdoing, yet He was condemned to be tortured to death. He did not complain, but accepted being treated so unjustly and offered up His sufferings for our sake.

As He died, Jesus foresaw that we would be blessed by believing in Him. Such knowledge brought Him joy. He thirsts for us to accept our redemption. Can we accept God’s will to take up our crosses, deny ourselves, and follow Jesus? Can we trust God’s plan to lead us to glorious life? Let us call to Him now for He is risen!

Short Prayer: Lord Jesus, we believe that You poured out Your blood to forgive our sins and to offer each of us a brand new life. Freed from guilt and shame, we boldly approach the Father’s throne. We receive the gift of Your blood and the power to overcome temptation and to forgive those who have hurt us. Amen.