Good Friday devotion - On This Day

Romans 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (NIV)

Today is Good Friday, one of the most sacred days of the year on the Christian calendar. It’s the time that we remember the last agonizing hours of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary. His ministry was completed and all of God’s promises were fulfilled by His unjust and untimely death. As Christ painfully suffered and felt His unique life ebb away, He fully experienced the human conditions of loneliness and mortality. Despair tried to cheat Him of His faith and death attempted to claim Him forever, but even though He went through that dark tunnel of desolation, He still clung to His Heavenly Father’s love so that in the end, Jesus committed His spirit into God’s hands.

At that terrible moment when He died, it must have appeared to those few followers around Him as if the world was totally forsaken by God and that Christ’s life had been extinguished by forces must stronger than Himself. His enemies gloated over His death and felt that His teaching had been totally discredited. They believed that they were fully exonerated and completely justified in their collusion to kill Jesus. In their eyes, He deserved to suffer humiliation and painfully die because Christ had dared to challenge both the political and religious leaders of His time.

But in God’s eyes, a far more mysterious and dynamic event was taking place. Christ was reconciling the world back to God. All of Creation had been tainted by human sin; it was now time to set everything right and to restore humanity to the grace of God. One man had foolishly caused a sinful separation from God; one man now faithfully repaired that baneful breach. In the midst of death, life was restored; in the time of darkness, true light was revealed.

Whoever you are and wherever you go, please know that on this Day of all days, You are totally forgiven of the past, completed reconnected to Christ, and eternally reunited to God’s heart, both now and forever.

Point to ponder

What does Good Friday mean to me? How may I share its blessing with others?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You did not deserve to die, but You chose to sacrifice Yourself so that we could be offered eternal peace with God. We do not deserve this gift, but Your mercy and grace allow us to be embraced and accepted by our Heavenly Father. Thank You for our complete restoration. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome. 😊

Today’s image is John’s latest Good Friday drawing called ‘Sin Bearer.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Sin Bearer.

May 02 devotional - Shame Game - Mark 15:17-18

Mark 15:17-18  They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” (NIV)

            Some historians believe it was called ‘The King’s Game.’ Before important prisoners were crucified, the Roman guards would abuse the condemned person and add to his misery by performing a cruel and brutal pageant of mockery and shame. The victim was dressed up as a king of the local region before whom the soldiers would mockingly bow and then beat the person senseless. They did this to disgrace the condemned person and to satisfy their own sadistic nature. Instead of giving their victim a last meal, they made his final hours one of cruelty and despair. The guards robbed him of any final chance of dignity or comfort. It was a wicked and atrocious way to die.

            Even today, these things still happen to prisoners of war and political detainees. We may sadly remember the degradation, torture, and abuse that our own troops carried out against prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq, just over ten years ago. Many of us were appalled when we saw the inhuman indignities that were carried out against powerless prisoners. It brought shame to our country and was strongly condemned by other nations around the world. It reminded me that no matter how sophisticated our weapons have become or how smart we train our military, helpless people can still be wickedly abused because of the vile and base nature of those with power.

            When I read about what Jesus endured before His crucifixion, I am appalled by the brutality and often weep at the wickedness. I wonder what Jesus must have been feeling inside of Himself because the very people who were mocking and assaulting Him were the exact same ones He came to die for. As each painful second passed, I ask myself, “How did He do it?” I know why He did it – He did it for me and you and them – I just don’t know how He managed to endure it all for my soul’s sake and the world.

Point to ponder

What do I feel when I read about Christ’s unjust injuries and degradation? Am I truly grateful for all that He endured?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You suffered for our sake and yet we still take You for granted. You purchased our salvation with every bruise and wound You received. We can never repay the debt we owe You; we can only wonder at Your courage and cling to Your grace. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s Good Friday drawings. It is called ‘Killer of Prophets.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cross.

Good Friday devotion

My Good Friday homily, given at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Knoxville during the ecumenical service.

Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands I commit  my spirit.”

            For centuries, the Early Church Fathers struggled with the teaching that Jesus was both human and divine. Years of conflict and discussion took place all over the once mighty Roman Empire, which was declining just as the Church was increasing. Eventually, special ecumenical Councils were held to fully and theologically discuss this important issue, At the end of these amazing Councils, most Christians at last accepted that Jesus Christ was in fact fully human, as well as fully divine.

            When I hear or read this last spoken word from Christ on the Cross, it reminds me of those important theological struggles of the past. For in this remarkable moment of Christ’s crucifixion, we have Jesus making one last human act as He releases and surrenders His Spirit to His Father in Heaven.

            Christ’s body is dying; his organs are shutting down; his emotions are stretched beyond their limit, and His mind is about to close. With one last human effort, He speaks the words of obedience and deference to God. All that He has left is His holy, untarnished, precious, and sinless spirit, and so the completely human Jesus surrenders to God His totally divine spirit.

            It’s the last lesson that Jesus gives to the people around Him, below the Cross. It’s the final lesson that is very important for all of our lives. What Jesus taught them, and what He is still teaching us today is simply this: He shows us how to die.

            Each one of us will one day leave the surly bonds of Earth, so Jesus has given us the final act of obedience, humility, and servitude that we can all make in our hearts and minds, in our thoughts and souls. On the day of our final departure, when we have to leave behind all things that are temporary, transient, and all too human, there is one thing we can do – we can commit, commend, and surrender our spirits into the Hands of the One, Triune, and Living God.

            May Christ be with us each day and bless us with His Holy presence. Amen.