Something about "Good Friday" makes even the atheists smile. It's almost redundant... Good Friday. Fridays are always good, but Good Friday - that just implies extra goodness! I don't believe it to be coincidental that God picked a Friday - a day we already cherish - as a day to be labeled "good". :)
We left off with Jesus being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, and hauled away to meet his fate. At first, he meets Pilate, who is less interested in punishing Jesus as he is keeping peace in a nation of very emphatic people. He questions Jesus a moment, and "Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, 'I find no basis for a charge against this man.'" (Luke 23:4) Of course, this answer was not good enough for the Pharisees and the community now rallied against Jesus. Once Pilate learned that Jesus was a Galilean man, Pilate had Jesus taken to Herod Antipas to be dealt with. Herod was amused by Jesus, but didn't seek to end his life. Upon learning that Jesus was "king of the Jews", Herod dressed Jesus in an elegant robe and had him shipped right back up to Pilate.
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him." (Luke 23:13-16)
Of course, we know that Jesus was not punished and released. But this is the order that Pilate gave. The people demanded his life. Finally, Pilate gave in.
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. (Luke 23:23-25)
Let's talk about this Barabbas fella for a minute. He was, according to scripture, jailed for rebelling against the Roman government in place at the time. He was also accused of murder, but there is a certain irony involved with releasing Barabbas in order to punish Jesus. Barabbas was esentially guilty of the same crime the Pharisees claimed Jesus committed - rebellion against Rome. Of course, we know this was just a cover for the jealousy felt by the religious leaders who feared Jesus would, esentially, steal all of their followers. Barabbas, translated, means Son of Father. This name, while perhaps not his given name, shows how Jesus' death can save anyone - even average guys in jail. Barabbas was released back into society that day and Jesus was taken away to be beaten and die. Again, there is a certain irony about this situation. Jesus took the death penalty so that Barabbas - a son of a father - could live, just like he did for us.
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals - one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Luke 23:32-28)
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-46)
Having been to my share of funerals, and having had the miserable experience of witnessing my mother take her last breath, I can testify that it is, without a doubt, the kind of experience a person wishes to forget, but cannot. I cannot imagine, and am thankful, the kind of sorrow Jesus' family and his followers present that day must've felt. Even nature seemed to mourn him - the sky fell black during the midday hours. It must've felt like it was all for naught. Over. No more Jesus, no more hope.
So, what's so good about Good Friday, if even the Earth fell into darkness for a time? This passage tells us something incredible that happened: the veil was torn. The curtain referred to in Luke 23:45 kept people from viewing the Most Holy Place. This was where the ark of the covenant, and therefore the presence of God, was located. Only the high priest was allowed to go there, and once a year he entered to atone for the sins of all the people he represented. When this curtain was torn, God's presence was fully exposed, and it was no longer necessary for anyone to intercede on our behalf. We were granted access to God, and were given permission to go to Him whenever and wherever we wanted. The barrier was literally ripped.
If Jesus was never resurrected, and we know he was, Good Friday gave us a huge blessing - direct access to God uninhibited by fellow man. We know that Good Friday was really just the start of our complete salvation, but we received the first blessing the moment the veil was torn and God became more than just a distant idea... He became a personal and intimate Heavenly Father.
Good, indeed.
We left off with Jesus being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, and hauled away to meet his fate. At first, he meets Pilate, who is less interested in punishing Jesus as he is keeping peace in a nation of very emphatic people. He questions Jesus a moment, and "Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, 'I find no basis for a charge against this man.'" (Luke 23:4) Of course, this answer was not good enough for the Pharisees and the community now rallied against Jesus. Once Pilate learned that Jesus was a Galilean man, Pilate had Jesus taken to Herod Antipas to be dealt with. Herod was amused by Jesus, but didn't seek to end his life. Upon learning that Jesus was "king of the Jews", Herod dressed Jesus in an elegant robe and had him shipped right back up to Pilate.
Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him." (Luke 23:13-16)
Of course, we know that Jesus was not punished and released. But this is the order that Pilate gave. The people demanded his life. Finally, Pilate gave in.
But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. (Luke 23:23-25)
Let's talk about this Barabbas fella for a minute. He was, according to scripture, jailed for rebelling against the Roman government in place at the time. He was also accused of murder, but there is a certain irony involved with releasing Barabbas in order to punish Jesus. Barabbas was esentially guilty of the same crime the Pharisees claimed Jesus committed - rebellion against Rome. Of course, we know this was just a cover for the jealousy felt by the religious leaders who feared Jesus would, esentially, steal all of their followers. Barabbas, translated, means Son of Father. This name, while perhaps not his given name, shows how Jesus' death can save anyone - even average guys in jail. Barabbas was released back into society that day and Jesus was taken away to be beaten and die. Again, there is a certain irony about this situation. Jesus took the death penalty so that Barabbas - a son of a father - could live, just like he did for us.
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals - one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, "If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Luke 23:32-28)
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-46)
Having been to my share of funerals, and having had the miserable experience of witnessing my mother take her last breath, I can testify that it is, without a doubt, the kind of experience a person wishes to forget, but cannot. I cannot imagine, and am thankful, the kind of sorrow Jesus' family and his followers present that day must've felt. Even nature seemed to mourn him - the sky fell black during the midday hours. It must've felt like it was all for naught. Over. No more Jesus, no more hope.
So, what's so good about Good Friday, if even the Earth fell into darkness for a time? This passage tells us something incredible that happened: the veil was torn. The curtain referred to in Luke 23:45 kept people from viewing the Most Holy Place. This was where the ark of the covenant, and therefore the presence of God, was located. Only the high priest was allowed to go there, and once a year he entered to atone for the sins of all the people he represented. When this curtain was torn, God's presence was fully exposed, and it was no longer necessary for anyone to intercede on our behalf. We were granted access to God, and were given permission to go to Him whenever and wherever we wanted. The barrier was literally ripped.
If Jesus was never resurrected, and we know he was, Good Friday gave us a huge blessing - direct access to God uninhibited by fellow man. We know that Good Friday was really just the start of our complete salvation, but we received the first blessing the moment the veil was torn and God became more than just a distant idea... He became a personal and intimate Heavenly Father.
Good, indeed.
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