Good Friday of the
Lord’s Passion
(Isaiah 52:13-53:12;
Hebrews 4:14-16.5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42)
Every Good Friday we
read the Passion according to John. This
account of the death of Jesus differs dramatically from the others. Unlike those of Matthew and Mark Jesus does
not suffer the worse of deaths imaginable – cruelly tortured and completely
isolated. Nor does Jesus continue performing
acts of kindness until his dying breath as in the Passion of Luke. In John, Jesus dies triumphant having
outclassed his adversaries and transcending any pain.
We see this victory in
the garden where the Roman soldiers fall to the ground when Jesus identifies
himself as the great “I AM.” He shows
his authority again before the high priest Annas. When Annas questions him about his orthodoxy,
Jesus tells him truly that he has always talked openly and no one has faulted
his doctrine. With Pilate Jesus is
absolutely masterful. When he is
threatened by the governor, Jesus tells him that the only power that Pilate has
over him was given to him by his Father so that Jesus might accomplish the
Father’s will. That will, of course, is
that the Son of God might die to justify sinners. As he dies, Jesus declares that the
justification is complete.
This is not the time
for sorrow as if we have lost a loved one.
Rather it is a moment of awe and gratitude. Jesus Christ, the Lord, who became our
brother, has won for us the promise of eternal life. We were doomed to sin and damnation, now we
can live in righteousness and hope.
