Nothing seemed right on that Friday long ago. Their teacher with whom they lived and travelled with for the last three years was arrested. They had not slept all night, and now he was being executed. And to make things worse, they could not even gather to grieve and hold a proper burial. It was all so surreal, it felt like a bad dream from which they would surely soon wakeup.
Every year since that fateful day, the followers of Jesus have gathered from wherever they were to remember the events of that ‘Good Friday’. As many as could, would even gather in Jerusalem near that hill known as the place of the skull – but not this year.
It is nearly 2000 years later, and the millennia old rituals of gathering and re-enacting the way of the cross have been abruptly halted. Today, some of my dearest friends are laying to rest a wife, mother, and grandmother. They cannot even gather their friends to help them grieve and remember, to celebrate a beautiful life well lived. And today, to remember the way of sorrows Jesus walked while carrying His cross, we can only gather in our homes, not permitted to gather together in church buildings or group processions – but it is still a ‘Good Friday’.
That Friday when Jesus died on the cross, was called ‘Good’ because it brought all the goodness of God back into the lives of His children. The savior had come to save them, and to save all who would ever look to His cross and believe. Nothing could take that goodness away because three days later, Jesus rose from the tomb in which they laid His dead body. Jesus conquered death and the grave for all time, and for all who would ever believe.
So today, even though nothing seems right or normal, even though we cannot gather together in rememberance because of this Coronavirus Pandemic that has our world sheltering in place for fear of sickness and death – let us take hope. Let us take hope because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that will ultimately conquer this COVID-19 pestilence.
“Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:32-33 ESV
There is no pestilence or sword, no danger or peril that Jesus has not already overcome. When we live this mortal life IN Christ and in His indwelling power we must not fear, no matter what.
“The body they may kill…God’s truth abideth still…His kingdom is forever.”
Martin Luther
No matter what you feel or where you are, no matter if this COVID-19 pestilence has come near you or even worse, claimed someone you know and love…open your heart, painful as it is, and know this…it is still a ‘Good’ day because Jesus has overcome the world and ALL that is in it.
Shalom,
Pastor Brad
Image credit: https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/good-friday