Healing Rays of Righteousness

We call the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, “Good Friday.”  But what is so “good” about the day a man named Jesus of Nazareth is arrested, brutally beaten and hung from a cross to suffer and die?

The cross of Jesus is a central symbol of the Christian faith, but for many who claim to be Christian, Christ’s death seems to have very little impact in the way they live their life.  It is simply a tragic, bloody story to read on Good Friday.

At that time in history, the cross had no religious meaning.  It was simply the method of execution preferred by the Roman government for all criminals.  These executions were usually staged just outside city walls and beside main roads, where they would be prominently visible, as a scary warning to all who passed by.

But Jesus is no criminal and so there must be something different about the crucifixion of Jesus that makes the day “Good” and the week “Holy” in our annual remembering and retelling of the story.  What is it?

To answer that question, I invite you to remember what the prophet Isaiah said about God’s messiah who would come into the world, the messiah whom Jesus claimed to be.

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  (Isaiah 53:4-6).

And remember what the writer of Hebrews said about Jesus’ crucifixion; “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. … and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:14, 17c)

Three things come to mind as I think about what Jesus’ death means to me.  There are three things Jesus accomplished for me when he declared from the cross “It is finished” and died.

The first thing is that by suffering death on the cross, Jesus redeemed me out of slavery to sin.  The price of my redemption was paid in full with the sacrifice of Jesus’ own life.  It is finished, the price is paid, and I am set free from slavery to sin.

The apostle Paul says that God “has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14).

The second thing is that by suffering death on the cross, Jesus reconciled me with God.  Sin always separates relationships, and my sin separated me from God. But through Jesus’ sacrifice of himself, Jesus forgave me and restored my relationship with God.  In other words, his death mediated peace between me and God.

By suffering death on the cross, Jesus also empowered me to be reconciled with others.  The sinful walls of prejudice, fear, pride, and selfishness in me, are broken down.  And now, instead of being filled with fear and alienation, I am freed to enjoy peace and caring relationships.

The third thing is that by suffering death on the cross, Jesus restored to me God’s approval, acceptance, and divine nature as His adopted child.  I am now justified – restored to the relationship with God I would have enjoyed if I had never sinned.  My whole past is forgiven, blotted out.  So complete is that restoration that I am now called a child of God.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!”  (1 John 3:1).

These are the wonderful, amazing things that Jesus accomplished for me that day, when he declared from the cross, “It is finished” and died.

To gaze upon Jesus’ cross of suffering and death with the understanding that we belong on that cross – that it is our place of deserving punishment for sins committed, is awesome.  And to understand that Jesus took our place and died the death we deserved so that we could live in God’s house forever, because He so greatly loved us, is amazing.

We can properly stand before the cross of Jesus Christ only with a bowed head and a broken spirit.  And there remain until the Lord Jesus speaks into our hearts His words of forgiveness and acceptance.  Then being gripped by His love and overflowing with thanksgiving, we go from the cross and into our world to sacrificially love and serve all others in His name.

That is why I and all who believe Jesus to be the Messiah, the Savior, call this day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday.”  Thanks be to God for His amazing love and grace.

“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – April 17, 2019