Rev. Dustin ParkerGood Friday -
Concordia Lutheran Church
Good Friday, Noon April 23, 2011
It Boils Down to This
John 19:30
† In Jesus, the Crucified’s Name †
May you realize the grace and peace that is yours, united with Christ in this seemingly dark, yet glorious moment…
Close your eyes for a moment, and put yourself in the place of Mary and John. You are standing on a rocky hillside, where the crowd is slowly starting to depart. There is your son, your friend, hanging there, beaten, bloody, tortured….
Dead.
Is this what it all boils down to?
Is this why Mary endured the gossip and whispers about her miraculous pregnancy? Is this why the angels told the shepherds in the middle of the night that a child was born? Is this why she treasured and stored all those events in her heart?
To see Simeon’s prophecy about her heart being pierced come true – as she looks upon her Savior-Son, his body worn out and barely hanging from the cross.
Is this why John left his father and the family business, and spent three years hiking around Israel? Why he endured Peter’s in ability to control himself, and his brother’s temper, and the endless political squabbles between Matthew the IRS Agent and Judas the Tea Party Zealot? All the miracles, all the incredible teaching, so different, so powerful, so life-changing? Is this what it all was pointing toward, this horrific, hope-crushing scene?
Yes.
Everything boils down to this – this moment when poor, wandering Rabbi’s life, taken with violence and extreme prejudice. As the people leave this scene, perhaps they are disappointed not to see a another miracle, perhaps they wonder why He would endure and not fight as he had when He cleansed the temple. The last thing they could possibly have in mind that this moment, and the one we celebrate on Sunday are the most significant in history…
It all boils down to this moment. “ he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
In this incredibly glorious moment, for that is what it is, and incredibly glorious moment, there is only awe. We know what Mary and John do know yet know, but what was pointed too continually in scripture.
Not just for the son of man, but for all of Mankind, it boils down to this moment. The centurion will recognize this and proclaim “THIS HAS TO BE THE SON OF GOD!” (nlt)
Here, at this cross, with this battered, bleeding man hanging there, the world changes. Every sin and the wrath for those sins, is nailed to His cross with Him. Sin is finished, even if they all haven’t been committed yet.
We are there as well, hidden in Christ, united to Him even as he cries out and gives up His spirit that just as we die with Him, we shall be raised with Him…
It all boils down to here.. at this horrific, brutal, yet marvelous and glorious scene…for here God pours our mercy and grace….
Leaving us in awe… and with hope….
AMEN.
Good Friday, Noon April 23, 2011
It Boils Down to This
John 19:30
† In Jesus, the Crucified’s Name †
May you realize the grace and peace that is yours, united with Christ in this seemingly dark, yet glorious moment…
Close your eyes for a moment, and put yourself in the place of Mary and John. You are standing on a rocky hillside, where the crowd is slowly starting to depart. There is your son, your friend, hanging there, beaten, bloody, tortured….
Dead.
Is this what it all boils down to?
Is this why Mary endured the gossip and whispers about her miraculous pregnancy? Is this why the angels told the shepherds in the middle of the night that a child was born? Is this why she treasured and stored all those events in her heart?
To see Simeon’s prophecy about her heart being pierced come true – as she looks upon her Savior-Son, his body worn out and barely hanging from the cross.
Is this why John left his father and the family business, and spent three years hiking around Israel? Why he endured Peter’s in ability to control himself, and his brother’s temper, and the endless political squabbles between Matthew the IRS Agent and Judas the Tea Party Zealot? All the miracles, all the incredible teaching, so different, so powerful, so life-changing? Is this what it all was pointing toward, this horrific, hope-crushing scene?
Yes.
Everything boils down to this – this moment when poor, wandering Rabbi’s life, taken with violence and extreme prejudice. As the people leave this scene, perhaps they are disappointed not to see a another miracle, perhaps they wonder why He would endure and not fight as he had when He cleansed the temple. The last thing they could possibly have in mind that this moment, and the one we celebrate on Sunday are the most significant in history…
It all boils down to this moment. “ he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
In this incredibly glorious moment, for that is what it is, and incredibly glorious moment, there is only awe. We know what Mary and John do know yet know, but what was pointed too continually in scripture.
Not just for the son of man, but for all of Mankind, it boils down to this moment. The centurion will recognize this and proclaim “THIS HAS TO BE THE SON OF GOD!” (nlt)
Here, at this cross, with this battered, bleeding man hanging there, the world changes. Every sin and the wrath for those sins, is nailed to His cross with Him. Sin is finished, even if they all haven’t been committed yet.
We are there as well, hidden in Christ, united to Him even as he cries out and gives up His spirit that just as we die with Him, we shall be raised with Him…
It all boils down to here.. at this horrific, brutal, yet marvelous and glorious scene…for here God pours our mercy and grace….
Leaving us in awe… and with hope….
AMEN.
