Good Friday
Today Christians around the world recognize Good Friday in honor of Christ's death on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. It is easy for us to call today "good" because we know the end of the story. Yes it pains us to think of Christ being beaten and killed because of our sins, but at the same time, without that act we would have no hope for salvation.
Imagine, however, looking at the crucifixion through the eyes of one of the disciples. They did not know that Christ would rise from the dead on Easter. All they knew was that their leader had been betrayed and was being put to death unjustly. From their perspective all hope was lost.
In the Gospel of John we're told that after the crucifixion the disciples hid out together and locked the doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. They weren't waiting for Jesus to rise from the dead; they were waiting to find out whether or not they would be executed as well. In fact, in Luke we are told that after Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the Mother of James saw that Jesus' tomb was empty and told the disciples what happened, the disciples didn't believe them! They thought that what the women were saying was nonsense.
Without Christ, there is no hope and our faith is nonsense. I think the disciples understood this. Although they didn't understand Jesus' true purpose, to die for our sins, they did understand his central role in their faith. If He were to have remained dead then, as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:14, our faith would be useless.
Today let us reflect on the importance of Christ's sacrifice and be thankful for the resurrection that followed.
Imagine, however, looking at the crucifixion through the eyes of one of the disciples. They did not know that Christ would rise from the dead on Easter. All they knew was that their leader had been betrayed and was being put to death unjustly. From their perspective all hope was lost.
In the Gospel of John we're told that after the crucifixion the disciples hid out together and locked the doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. They weren't waiting for Jesus to rise from the dead; they were waiting to find out whether or not they would be executed as well. In fact, in Luke we are told that after Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the Mother of James saw that Jesus' tomb was empty and told the disciples what happened, the disciples didn't believe them! They thought that what the women were saying was nonsense.
Without Christ, there is no hope and our faith is nonsense. I think the disciples understood this. Although they didn't understand Jesus' true purpose, to die for our sins, they did understand his central role in their faith. If He were to have remained dead then, as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:14, our faith would be useless.
Today let us reflect on the importance of Christ's sacrifice and be thankful for the resurrection that followed.
posted by Missio Dei at 10:40 AM
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