Good Friday

In previous years, we have set up stations around the church, each depicting one of the scenes from the day of Jesus' death and then his resurrection, with readings at each from the gospels. This year, we are borrowing from other traditions and focusing on each of the seven statements Jesus made while he was on the cross. Ranging from elementary school student to senior citizen, each speaker will reflect for 5 minutes on the meaning of a specific passage. I've listed them below, along with my high-level thoughts about their importance:

• Matthew 27:46. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Jesus echoes the pain of David, who looked for God in the midst of public humiliation and abandonment and did not find him. But he suffered shame not for himself, but for us. He shared, for a brief span of time, our separation from God.
• John 19:26-27. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. Though Jesus had other brothers who could have taken on the responsibility of care for Mary, Jesus turns instead to John, his 'beloved disciple'. Here we see the bond established by Jesus, closer than family.
• John 19:28. Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." Jesus was intensely aware of his part in keeping all of the promises that God had made in the Old Testament about the Messiah. People build their hopes on promises. The  promises of God are our foundation because they provide the guarantee of his favor even in the middle of difficult circumstances and tough choices.
• John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. It is finished. It is complete. Jesus had spent himself to do all that God had for him. There was nothing more in this life.  Can we say the same thing? Have we fulfilled God's purpose in our generation? (cf. Acts 13:36)
• John 24:34. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The son of God, placed among dying criminals, his clothing picked over as if he's already dead, sneered about by a skeptical crowd, reaches out with forgiveness. It is not a vindictive statement, like we would use to express our superiority and anger, but one of pity, like he used when he wept over Jerusalem.
• Luke 23:43. Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." One of the most precious promises of God is that there is still something more, something better. And it is available, not because of our strenuous efforts on God's behalf, but because of the strenuous efforts of Jesus on our behalf. 
• Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.  Where to we 'commit' ourselves? Are we trusting in ourselves to make it? Are we convincing ourselves that there is nothing more? Or do we place ourselves wholly into the hands of the Father?

Sometimes we over-simplify Good Friday and want to rush ahead to Resurrection Sunday. We want to skip to the happily-ever-after. We forget the uncertainty and doubt of the in-between time, as Jesus' family and closest friends watched him die and be buried. Finding hope and purpose in those times is the lesson of Good Friday because, as the preacher said, It's Friday but Sunday's comin'.