No Sunday Without Friday (Don't Rush Past The Cross)
It annoys me a little when we sing about the resurrection on Good Friday (Not that there will be much congregational singing this week #COVID19). Or, when the benediction invokes the resurrection rather than leaving us with the solemnity the sacrifice of the Cross.
This happened quite a bit when I was younger. It was almost as if we learned avoid the reality of suffering of Christ. Maybe because it would overwhelm us in a way that demands surrender? It still happens today. I’m still not completely sure why. Perhaps we want to avoid the requirement of Christ's follower to share in His suffering (See Romans 8:17-18 and 1 Peter 4:13-16)
1 Peter 4:13 says:
13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed…16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name)
Either way, it bothered me a little bit when I was growing up, but a whole lot more now. The theology of the Cross of Christ is central to our beliefs as Christians. For those of us who are called to vocational ministry; the Cross is central to all we do. I don't mean the image or the idea; I mean the 'suffering and shame' to quote a classic (See The Old Rugged Cross). The Cross is the part of Christianity that pours 'contempt on all our pride' (See When I Survey (The Wonderful Cross)).
“...heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
I believe that our western, hyper-positive, good-life chasing sensibilities aren't into the message of suffering or for that matter discipline. Generally speaking, we like to move quickly to the next thing, not linger and learn from difficult situations and pain/suffering. In the case of Easter — we want to get past the death and dying to the happy stuff. When we avoid suffering, humiliation, and death of Jesus, we put ourselves out of balance with the message of the Cross. A lot happens in the days just before the third day. And the third day never arrived without the days before.
In the few days before the resurrection:
Jesus washed the disciples’ feet (John 13; Matthew 26).
Jesus broke bread (John 13; Matthew 26).
Jesus prayed and sweat blood in the Garden (John 18; Matthew 26).
Jesus was betrayed (John 18; Matthew 26)>
Jesus was tried and beaten (John 18; Matthew 26).
Jesus was denied by Peter (John 18; Matthew 26).
Jesus was questioned by Pilate (John 18; Matthew 27).
Jesus was flogged (John 18).
Jesus was made a fool of humiliated in awful ways ( John 18; Matthew 27).
Jesus was sentenced to death (John 19; Matthew 27).
Jesus was forced to carry the Cross (John 19; Matthew 27).
Jesus was nailed to the Cross (John 19; Matthew 27).
Jesus was abandoned by His Father (Matthew 27).
Jesus said goodbye to His mother (John 19).
Jesus forgave His murderers (Luke 23).
Jesus died (John 19; Matthew 27).
The day before the resurrection was the Sabbath. They rested (Luke 23:56).
Then the third day, Jesus rose from the dead.
As you can see, a lot happens in just a couple of days before Christ's resurrection.
Without question day three has an untold impact on the course of history — we celebrate it every 'Sunday' and should.
But Good Friday is the only day of the year that we slow down as a universal church to think about, ponder, and reflect on Christ's death. Without this reflection, we run the risk missing the truth about suffering in Christ. The shame, the humiliations, physical pain, abandonment and broken-heartedness He suffered, was a glorious demonstration of love and provided the atonement for us all. Shame and suffering in Christ are to be embraced (1 Peter 4; Romans 8). The trouble is avoiding the theology of the Cross; avoiding the suffering and shame; leaves us vulnerable to falling when we encounter pain, discomfort, stress, and suffering in our own lives. And we will.
In the coming days as we near Good Friday — can I encourage you to give yourself over to thinking of the Cross? Think about what it means to suffer with Jesus; and help those you lead to do the same.
