A Day They Tried to Forget: A Reflection on Good Friday
Ben Holloway | April 07, 2023
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
— Luke 23:26-43 ESV
On Good Friday, we remember a day when Jesus was supposed to go away. But events did not go as planned.
Crucifixions were supposed to be smooth and orderly. Everyone played their part to make sure the punishment was carried out with maximum efficiency and elegance. But this was no ordinary crucifixion.
Things had already been going off the rails. Pilate couldn’t find a crime and Jesus was not displaying the normal characteristics of a guilty man. But surely the day itself would go without a hitch and everyone could put this sorry episode behind them.
Everyone had a job to do. Soldiers crucify and mock, rulers sneer, and criminals die.
Mourners were supposed to highlight the dread of crucifixion and the depravity of the criminal. But this day, the warning came from the man drenched in blood. He warned them that their mourning ought to be for the terrible events about to occur to them. No one understood him at the time, but in 70 AD, everyone would experience the destruction of Jerusalem and the penny would drop.
Hanging on the cross, the condemned is supposed to be screaming out for mercy. Instead, he asked his Father to forgive his killers. And then he forgave a repentant criminal hanging next to him! What kind of crucifixion is this?
Hanging on the cross, the condemned is supposed to be screaming out for mercy. Instead, he asked his Father to forgive his killers.
One centurion could contain himself no longer. He began to worship the Jewish God and proclaim the innocence of Jesus. Imagine the scene — a Roman centurion losing his composure and agreeing with a criminal!
Jesus – innocent, Messiah, Savior.
Such an unusual day. But time will heal, and everyone will soon forget.
But before the memories could fade, Jesus rose from the dead.
Now, one could either double down, deny, and suppress those who followed Jesus, or one could accept the truth – Jesus was who he claimed to be, the Son of God, the Anointed one, the Savior of the world.
Now, one could either double down, deny, and suppress those who followed Jesus, or one could accept the truth – Jesus was who he claimed to be, the Son of God, the Anointed one, the Savior of the world.
Perhaps some of those of the latter group were also in the crowd addressed by Peter after Jesus had ascended into heaven. Their consciences pricked and overwhelmed with grief over their sin, they asked Peter what they might do. How could they make things right? Peter’s answer was a balm for the guilt-ridden soul: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself” (Acts 2:38-39).
Amazingly, the people who repented that day (some 3,000) experienced the grace of God. They experienced forgiveness of sin, a slate washed clean, and they received the Spirit of God. As a consequence, their lives were utterly changed.
Even now, rulers, crowds, and powerful forces tell us that Christianity will fade into the history books and, years from now, will be looked upon as a temporary fad. The crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus tells us otherwise. Any hope of a post-Christian future is a vain one. Just as Jesus would not go away, neither will his people, at least until he decides to take us home.