Good Friday Meditations

Let us first acknowledge God, for the wonder of all His creation; and let us honour the Wurundjeri people, the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and worship in Point Cook. We remember their suffering, and pray for their well-being.

Over there, on a hill, they call it Golgotha, there is a lot of activity – there are going to be crucifixions today. We know about this cruel form of execution that the Romans use. Yes, there are two convicts set to die today – they will be on the left and right of the cross to be placed in the centre. Who will it be, nailed to the centre cross?

There is an echo in my head – the crowd was calling out “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”. Was it really Jesus they were referring to? After all, hadn’t Jesus just been helping people, and putting a positive spin on life! Now I can hear another roar. And if I strain my neck, I can see a bloodied man dragging a cross. And it is Jesus!

I cannot tell why He whom angels worship, should set His love upon the people of earth. Or why, as shepherd, He should seek the wanderers, to bring them back. But this I know, that He was born of Mary, and Bethlehem’s manger was His first home; that He lived at Nazareth and laboured. So the Saviour of the world had come.

I cannot tell how silently He suffered, as with His peace He graced this place with tears. Or how His heart upon the cross was broken, the crown of pain to three and thirty years! But this I know, He heals the broken hearted, and stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear. He lifts the burden from the heavy laden; for yet the Saviour of the world is here.

Why would God ask this of Jesus? Because God indeed loves us so much! Each of us was known to God in our mother’s womb and God loved us then. As each of us emerged into life in this world, God saw potential in us, and God loved us. As we were carefree children, running amuck through our parents’ lives, and driving teachers mad, God loved us then. In our first times of rebellion, when we tended to completely ignore God, and did things that offended God and hurt others, God still loved us.

As we sit here, in many ways broken and battered people, in the midst of this assurance that God loves us and always will – Jesus says to us, “It is okay; yes you’ve got yourself in a fair bit of trouble, but I have died so that you might be able to truly love God in response to His love for you.”

In John’s Gospel, Jesus, from the cross, says “I am thirsty”, and a sponge full of sour wine is lifted to Jesus’ mouth. But there is more to this statement than just the human thirst of Jesus on the cross. Jesus, who is the living water, was identifying with all human beings who without Jesus will always thirst. It was our unquenched thirstiness that took Jesus to the cross. In identifying ourselves with this sacrifice, in accepting that Jesus did this for ‘me’, then we will receive such living water … that we will never be thirsty again.

Each one of us is an incomplete human being without a relationship with God. But things have got in the way to prevent this. Think of wanting to get up close and personal with your favourite star of stage or screen or the football field. They are out in public making an appearance to promote what they’re doing, yet you just can’t get to them. You want to give them some advice on their song choices or goal-kicking, but there are all these barricades and security guards and wall-to-wall people, and you think that you’ll never make it – you’ll never meet this hero of yours! Jesus has broken through all the barriers that get in the way between us and God. Let us approach that throne of grace and not miss out on the blessing.

We can have a good time today, but the sacrifice of Jesus and what it means for the world ... should never be far from our minds! And we of course look forward to a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection in two days time.

Thank-you Jesus for showing God’s love to me – for choosing to suffer on my behalf! I’m truly forgiven because you were forsaken. Jesus, You are my King! God of the crucified Jesus, we pray that we may all be lifted above anxiety, guilt, bewilderment, pain and fear, by your mercy given to each one of us in bearing our sorrows and carrying our shame. We pray for our family and friends – that a new hope might germinate for them also this day, a new awareness that eagerly awaits resurrection. We pray for all who are sick and suffering this day, may each one know the comforting, strengthening presence of Jesus; in communion with Christ’s sufferings may they come to know the God who understands. Amen!

Reading John 19:16-30 would be very profitable. May Easter blessings flow to all!