Tennebrae Meditations - Good Friday

The First Word:  Luke 23:34

³³ And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴ And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”^[b] And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Forgiveness is hard for us.  When we are hurt, injured, or even just slighted by another.  We tend to hold grudges, keep score, and indignantly desire or demand just desserts.  We want our pound of flesh.  We want eye for eye, tooth for tooth, blood for blood.

But not Jesus.  He prays, “Father, forgive them”.  An indictment to all of us in our unforgivingness of others.  A model for us to follow, when others harm us.  But more than that, a true prayer, from his heart of mercy.  A demonstration of purpose, that tells and interprets for us what this cross is all about.  Forgiveness for the sinner.  Forgiveness from the Father, procured by the Son.

Only in this cross are they forgiven, are you forgiven, is anyone forgiven by the Father.  And so Jesus’ prayer is answered.  Thanks be to God.  Glory be to Jesus.

The Second Word:  Luke 23:43

³⁹ One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,^[d] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴² And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³ And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Paradise.  It sounds so good.  What could be more of a contrast from this dark day on a hill outside Jerusalem.  The grim business of a public execution.  A couple of ne’er do-wells and a troublemaker from Galilee are put to torturous and humiliating death.  Life is cheap.  Those in power are cruel.

Added to the bitterness of it all, is the injustice.  This Jesus.  He doesn’t belong here.  He doesn’t deserve this. Criminals do.  These two thieves knew their sins.  But Jesus was innocent, if anyone ever was.

That didn’t stop the mockery.  From the Jews, from the soldiers, even from the fellow condemned.  But then the one thief spoke up for Jesus.  “Don’t you fear God, man?  We’re under the same sentence, and getting what we deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong”.  Truer words than he himself probably knew.  But on this day many spoke truth from strange places.

And then the prayer, the request of the faithful, a prayer echoed by Christians ever since, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom”.  The response is immediate, compassionate, and unconditional, “Today you will be with me in paradise”. 

This veil of tears will end.  This life’s suffering has a limit.  Paradise awaits all the faithful ne’er do wells do die with Jesus.  Thanks be to God.  Glory be to Jesus.

The Third Word:  John 19:26-27

²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

His mother and his beloved friend.  It only added to the bitterness that they of all people had to see him like this, see him dying.  A mother’s heart broken, a sword piercing her own soul.  And beloved John, who so recently leaned on Jesus breast while they broke bread together, the lone faithful friend to the end who now stands deathwatch.  What a scene.  What a sorrow.

But it also gives Jesus the opportunity to further show love.  Even as he suffered so much, still his thoughts were turned to others.  “Woman behold your son.  Son, behold your mother”.  Jesus cares for his people.  It’s what brought him here in the first place.  His love, compassion, mercy, brought him from heaven above to earth below, to be born of a woman, born in human flesh.  That love which drove him to be baptized for us, tempted for us, to have compassion on so many.  To teach and preach and heal and feed.  And now, to suffer and die.  He cares for you, even you, even to the point of death.  Now care for each other. Thanks be to God.  Glory be to Jesus.

The Fourth Word:  Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34

⁴⁶ And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The darkest word here, the word of his deepest suffering.  God the Father forsakes his beloved Son.  The human mind cannot comprehend the magnitude of this spiritual mystery.  How can it be?  That God the loving Father could do this to his only, his beloved Son?  Sharing a perfect unity from eternity.  United in will and purpose.  The Son begotten of and perfectly obedient to his Father.  And now this?  Oh darkest woe.  He made him to be sin, for us.  And then he did to sin what God does.  He casts it away from himself.

But in this deepest suffering is our surest deliverance.  In bearing the wrath of God fully, drinking it down to the last vile drop, Jesus spares us the same.  He shields us from the flames of fury, as he himself is consumed.  He keeps us from being severed from our Father, as he himself is cut off.  He bears the anger so that God lifts up his countenance upon us, and makes his face shine upon us.  God has forsaken Jesus on the cross, and so God will never ever ever forsake you.  Thanks be to God.  Glory be to Jesus.

The Fifth Word:  John 19:28

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”

He thirsted.  On the one hand a very human thing.  He’d lost a lot of fluids.  Blood.  Sweat.  It’s science, really.  And it added to his suffering, to be sure.  Most of us have never had such a thirst, and hopefully never will.  But Jesus wasn’t asking for a sip to relive his thirst.  He would endure the full measure of suffering appointed.  Recall earlier, when they offered him wine mixed with gall to drink, he refused.  That was a mild sedative to ease the pain, a small mercy the Romans afforded to the condemned.  Jesus would not have it, even that.  So why this drink?  Why ask now?

Two reasons.  One, to fulfill the scriptures.  Every last detail of his suffering must be complete.  Nothing forgotten.  Nothing left undone.  It is perfect, not only in the worthiness of the sacrifice.  But even in the execution down to the very last element.  Jesus knows exactly what he’s doing, why he’s doing it, and for whom.  And you can trust that this sacrifice he’s making is therefore fully sufficient for every last sin of yours, and mine, and everyone.  Jesus fulfills all righteousness, even here, even in his last moments.

And secondly, he is taking a sip to prepare for his next word.  Just as a parched preacher might take a quick sip from the water they put here in the pulpit.  So Jesus wants to be sure he is heard in this final declaration he’s about to make.  Stay tuned for the next word.  A loud declaration that demands our attention.  Thanks be to God.  Glory be to Jesus.

The Sixth Word:  John 19:30

³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

It is perfect.  It is complete.  It is entirely and thoroughly and fully accomplished.  It is finished.  It, being his mission.  His sacrifice.  His saving of the world.  His destruction of death.  His victory over sin.  His procuring forgiveness for all.  His blood-price paid, our redemption won.  It is finished.  Sin is finished.  Death is finished.  The devil is done.  Mission accomplished.  Game over.  Forever and ever.  Amen.

Friends, there is perhaps no greater declaration that has ever been made than this one.  One word in the Greek – Tetelestai – the most important word ever spoken by the most blessed speaker on the holiest of holy days as he accomplishes the greatest work ever done.  It. Is. Finished.

When sin plagues you, remember what Jesus says.  It is finished.  When the grave terrifies you, hear Jesus say, “it is finished”.  When you wonder if God can ever love someone like you, someone who’s such a mess, someone as weak and false and craven and duplicitous and jealous and angry and snide.  Put all that aside.  Because Jesus has.  It is finished at the cross.  And be at peace in him.  Thanks be to God.  Glory be to Jesus.

The Seventh Word:  Luke 23:46

⁴⁶ Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

He gives up his spirit.  It’s not yanked away, but given freely, just like his love for you.  He submits to death, and puts the final nail in death’s coffin.  He dies peacefully, now, knowing that all is accomplished.  His work is done.  His suffering ended.  The prize is won.

And so for you.  He died in peace, so you can depart in peace.  He committed his Spirit to the Father, and your spirit will also return to the Father in him.  The Christian can die in peace, and rest in peace, because we are in Christ.  Where he goes, we go.  Even in death.  Even into the Father’s hands.  His safekeeping.  His watchful care.  Until the time is right.

For Jesus, it would be three days of rest in the tomb.  Not even three whole days, as we would count them, but just as much as was appointed and not a minute more.  Death would break forth into life.  It was just around the corner.

For you, Christian, it’s much the same. You go into the ground also knowing a resurrection is in the offing.  Your spirit may rest in the Father’s hands a bit longer, but Christ was raised, and we too will rise in him.

And now we rest.  And we watch.  And we wait.  We know how the story ends.  And it does not end here, with death, but in life.  Thanks be to God.  Glory be to Jesus.