April 10, 2009
-
Sad Friday
When I first learned about “Good Friday” (for I didn’t know Jesus ’til I was 16), I thought it was such a misnomer. How could it be “good” when the Savior of the world was dying a cruel death? Shouldn’t it be “Sad Friday” or “Bad Friday”?
On this “Good Friday” 2009, it is a dark and gloomy day — just like it was that first “Sad Friday”. Darkness seemed to reign that day – as the skies clouded over from noon until 3 in the afternoon, and as Jesus hung on the cross crying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) (Mt 27:46) — which is perhaps the most painful and pitiful cry the world has ever heard.
As I close my eyes and imagine the scene and hear His voice cry out, experiencing the earth quaking and the rocks splitting (Mt 27:51), feeling the cold wind slap my face and seeing my Jesus hanging forlorn on that cross, all I can feel is that this truly is a Sad Friday. Where are the crowds who shouted Hosanna — and the ones who were so eager to touch Jesus so that they could be healed or to come in close in order to see Jesus perform miracles? Where are His disciples who said they’d follow Him wherever He went, even to death (Jn 11:16)? (“You do not want to leave me too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” Jn 6:67-68). They have all run away (except for the few faithful female disciples and the one male disciple “whom He loved” Jn 19:25). Even the sun has run away and hidden itself — for the scene is too unbearable to witness. It is dark and it is cold, and it seems as if the world has come to an end as the King of kings hangs dying.
Jesus, Jesus, thank you for taking upon your shoulders the condemnation of the world. Thank you for experiencing the pain — the lashes, the mockery, the abandonment and the shameful death — that should have been mine because of my sins, my selfishness, and my inability to completely meet your holy standard of perfection. Thank you, Jesus, that it was through this death – through your dying and your coming back to life again – that allowed “the curtain of the temple (to be) torn in two from top to bottom” (Mt 27:51), so that we may now enter into the Holy of Holies and speak with you face to face, as a person would with their friend — and which also allowed the tombs to break open (Mt 27:52) so that “Death has been swallowed up in victory” (and we may taunt, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”) (1 Cor 15:54-55) — so that anyone who believes in you will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in you will never die (Jn 11:25-26) — so that this dark, sad, bad, seemingly hopeless Friday is really and truly a Good Friday, after all. Thank you, Jesus.
