Have you ever been up all night long in worry because of some crisis? Perhaps it was a report that came in just before bedtime and it kept you sleepless in shock or grief. Perhaps it was a sudden pain that rushed you to the ER with a loved one and you were awake until the morning light dealing with all the tests and in exhaustion went hour by hour until morning came. The great weariness hangs on you, but sleep will not come.
We call today Good Friday because what Christ did for us was good. How thankful I am for that day! However, the early church called today Black Friday, not good. It was mourning. The disciples on the day itself, did not see the goodness that would come. Let’s look at this from their perspective:
It was a disastrous reversal. What a turn of events! How could this happen?!?! Just 5 days ago people were calling Jesus, “the Messiah.” The parade through the streets of Jerusalem called for Him to transform and free the Jewish nation. The people openly acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, who would bring justice. The Jewish leaders were too scared to touch him. He came in on Monday and started to set things right – turning the tables in the temple courts. In holy anger, He told it like it was and made the temple a place of worship rather than a place of cheating. Justice was beginning to prevail… finally! The disciples were assured in their hearts, this was the time for what Jesus had called the Kingdom of God.
The disciples were anticipating victory. Then, Jesus threw a wrench in their understanding during the Passover meal. He talked about His departure, washed their feet, and declared that one of the twelve, one of their inner circle, was going to betray him. (What!?!)
Then, Jesus went to the garden as He often did. He was praying and the disciples were just too exhausted to stay awake with him. Try as they might, they fell asleep. After the events of that week, it was just too hard to keep their eyes open. And then they awakened to a commotion with a crowd carrying torches with Judas at the lead. Jesus identified Himself and allowed them to take Him into custody. It was like He wanted to be arrested. And when Peter tried to defend him physically – Jesus rebuked him and healed the man Peter had attacked. This was not supposed to happen at all!
All night long the disciples were without Jesus. Only John had entered the high court with the Sanhedrin. Peter was on the outside being accused and denying Jesus three times. The others all scattered.
Through the night there was mob rule, so when they saw Jesus next, He was bloodied to the point of death. He had already been beaten, punched, beard pulled out, mocked, scourged, and judged. By noon, Pilate presented Him in brokenness and the people were calling out for His crucifixion. Darkness was deepening in the daytime hours so much that the middle of the day was black. It matched the attitude of the disciples’ hearts.
Oh, how could this be!?!
Jesus, the Hope of the Ages, nailed to a cross. The Rose of Sharon looking like all the petals were removed with only thorns remaining. The Lord was being laughed at. The Way seemed lost. The shepherd had indeed been struck and the sheep had scattered.
Of course, the disciples didn’t remember all that Jesus had said about suffering and death until afterward. They didn’t understand. They thought Jesus had been talking in some kind of symbolic illustration. As they woke from a troubled sleep or as the light dawned from a long night of anxiety, they find insanity has ruled the night and their leader is broken.
Grief is overwhelming. Questions are plaguing them. Why didn’t I stand up? Why didn’t I do something? Why didn’t Jesus stop them? He could have. He had before. He trapped them with their own words. How could God let this happen? Did we get it all wrong? Here He is now – nailed to a cross. My last three years wasted. My hope evaporated. My heart wrenching. How? Why?
No, this day didn’t seem like a “good” Friday at all! It was a catastrophe.
This is the day we celebrate today. A day of mourning. A day of loss. A day of confusion for the followers of Jesus.
Sunday, we know, is coming. Victory from the ashes. But the disciples DIDN’T see that. Right now, only Friday is here. They were caught in the middle of the storm and the one who had calmed the storm before, was being forced to carry His own implement of death – the cross.
I hope you will consider the reason we celebrate “Good” Friday. It is good because Jesus loved us so greatly. Jesus showed the disciples, and us, the full extent of His love. He laid down His life freely, so that we could be forgiven. He did this so we could embrace God as Father, rather than Him address us as enemies in our sinful state. Today is a day of love.
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