Thought for Friday, 29 March

 John 11:35

Jesus wept.

In the Christian calendar, today is known as ‘Good Friday’.  

When we, as Christians read about what happened to Jesus on this day, it’s difficult to see what’s good about it.  This man, who had healed the sick, preached the Gospel of loving and forgiving one another, who did violence to no person, went through an incredible level of torture and abuse, both mental and physical on this day we remember as ‘Good Friday’.

I heard a preacher talking about coming to Christ and repenting our sins.  His message in regard to this process was that it is easy to repent with words but unless it is accompanied with tears, it is meaningless.  Words are easy but genuine tears are honest, and when the tears come, it is almost like a second baptism.  He also added that once emotion is shown by the shedding of our tears, we always feel cleansed or better afterwards.

During The Rev Caryl Kyle’s ministry here, I recall one Holy Week service that showed how the senses we have been gifted with can be a means of helping us understand and experience in some way the real meaning and emotion of that last week of our Lord’s life in this world.  We had the sight of how the suffering of Jesus was depicted in various famous paintings.  We heard the sound of nails being hammered into wood to remind us of Calvary.  We smelt a rich perfume to remind us of how Jesus was anointed with expensive oil at Bethany by Mary, the sister of Lazarus.  We tasted wine and bread to remind us of that last supper with his disciples.  A crown of thorns was available to just handle and touch and give us some idea of a small part of the pain and discomfort Jesus had to bear because of our sins.

Over the years I have heard folks say (maybe after attending worship at another church) they weren’t comfortable about certain aspects of worship, e.g. when there are responses or when the worship leader after communion invites us to share ‘the peace’ with each other or maybe the type of hymns chosen.  It wasn’t so long ago that some were uncomfortable with female ministers and elders, and even the presence of advent candles at Christmas.

If ever there was a time to be uncomfortable in our Christian lives, it is today.  The things mentioned in the previous paragraph are trivial compared to the sins of mankind that we share and the same sins that caused our Lord to be tortured, humiliated, executed and caused even his friends to deny that they knew him.  It was these sins, our sins, that nailed the Lord to that cruel cross at Calvary and we should be uncomfortable and not be embarrassed if this discomfort is accompanied by tears.

Jesus wept is a phrase that appears in the Bible when Jesus mourned the death of his friend Lazarus who11:35m he raised from the dead.  It is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it reveals the compassion and humanity of Jesus, who felt the same emotions as the people around him.  Jesus wept also shows that he cares for every soul and is touched by the effects of sin, suffering and death.  His tears are a sign of his love and empathy for each and every one of us and he demonstrated this love by carrying our sins to the cross as a once and for all sacrifice.  In 2 Corinthians 5:21, it is written ‘For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Prayer – Heavenly Father, on this Good Friday, we remember the pain and suffering preceding the horror of the cross, and all that Jesus was willing to endure so we could be set free.  He paid the ultimate price, such a great sacrifice, to offer us the gift of eternal life. Help us never to take for granted this huge gift of love on our behalf. Forgive us for being too busy, or distracted by other things, for not fully recognizing what you have freely given, what you have done for us. Amen.