good-friday thoughts...

For those who are unaware, today is good-friday. As I sat at my desk this morning, I took time to read through the gospel accounts of Jesus' trial and crucifixion (Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, John 18-19). I have to admit that I often find it difficult to truly grasp what happened that day. Not that I can not mentally understand the facts, but I find that I don't grasp the weight of the account. I feel guilty that, as I read, I do not feel in my heart the emotion and passion that I think I should. I mean, this is the crux of all history. This is the panicle of all creation. Yet I read it and am not move to tears... The injustice, the mercy, the power, the humility, the pain, the joy, the sorrow, the peace... the paradox of Christ's suffering and my freedom... He receiving all I deserve... It is just so amazing. How can this story become commonplace? It becomes so normal that its weight and gravity decline in my heart.

Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion of The Christ, helped many (myself included) understand what that day was like. Watching the movie was truly a helpful moment in my walk as a follower of Jesus. To see and face what the physical aspect was like for Jesus allowed me to gain better image of the true pain experience by Jesus. That said, I would have to say that the time I most felt the weight and reality of the events of good-friday was listening to a sermon on the substitutionary attonement of Jesus by Pastor Mark Driscoll in Seattle, Washington. Along with the physical aspects, this sermon allowed me to meditate on the spiritual reality that Jesus bore in his body on that cross... namely my sin. If there was only one thing that you did on this day to meditate on Christ's crucifixion, I would recommend listening to this sermon.

In conclusion on this good-friday... remember that the goodness of this day is at the expense of the greatest injustice ever committed... God, perfect and holy, taking the punishment I deserve. In truth, I (and we) all deserve the wrath and destruction of God. But, because of his goodness and mercy, he has, for us who believe, taken this upon himself.

To my savior and king I am ever grateful. I am no longer my own, I am now and forever wholly yours.