Today is Good Friday. This is the day we remember Jesus was hung on the cross and crucified. He was made to suffer through the most horrifying death imaginable after being beaten almost to death…
And I ask again what’s so good about this day?
The Gospel reading for today is John 18:1 – 19:42. It starts Jesus being handed over and ends with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus removing Jesus from the cross and laying Him in the tomb.
There is a wealth of Hope and Good here.
Let’s start with the end – Nicodemus comes and help remove Jesus’ body and prepare Him for burial. Nicodemus you might remember was the Pharisee that came to Jesus under the cover of darkness and asked Him questions. You may or may not know that Nicodemus also stood up for Jesus in chapter 7 of John when the Jewish high council was talking about killing Jesus. Then Nicodemus is here in public helping this criminal. That is a faith filled journey that Christ calls all of us to go on. Nicodemus questions, learns and follows. He is changed by his encounter with Jesus and allows that to permeate his life. He is changed by God and becomes a follower, even though he thought he already was following God…
The other good thing or hope in this passage is the beginning. Jesus is encountered by Judas, the detachment of soldiers, the police and the chief priests. Jesus knows what is about to happens and He asks for whom are they looking. Of course they say Jesus of Nazareth, and He replies, “I am He.” Or at least that is what my translation says… However I find the next line interesting, “they stepped back and fell to the ground.” After Jesus said I am He they fell on their faces, why? Well part of this group were temple guards and probably devote Jews. And Jesus did not say I am He, He said “I AM”. He said the name of God given to Moses from the burning bush. Those assembled knew what He was saying and had to fall down at the name of God. They knew who He was when He said that, and they worshiped.
Today we remember our Savior’s crucifixion, and the hope that it brings us, in the soldiers that recognize God, and in a man who followed God, who through an encounter with Jesus was changed to understand what it really means to follow God
aSacredRebel 