Friday, 10 April 2009
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Today is Bad Friday
For all but 3 days of the year I can not bear to look at portrayals of Jesus’ death. I refuse to look upon the crucifix because of how much it breaks my heart to see my king, teacher, lover, friend, and G-d put to death. On Good Friday, I have no choice but to let my eyes see the bloody mess that is Jesus hanging upon cursed wood. It still breaks my heart. For today, and tomorrow my heart will be shattered. I can not look to Sunday or think of it until her sun rises.This year, Friday seems different. Typically I’m devastated and depressed, which I am, but there are new feelings this year. I try my hardest not to look past the day I’m living on Holy Week. Today as I watch my prince of peace be tried, cursed, and killed, I mourn greatly because it feels like defeat in every possible way. Except I hold an understanding now of what it means to take up one’s cross.
As I watch these horrible things happen to the man I don’t fully understand but fully trust I try to remember how he told me to love my enemies, and that I have to take up my cross and follow his lead. As I watch him die, I’m not only afraid of defeat and confused in every possible way but I am also attempting to find understanding in what I’ve been told for the last several years by this now broken man.
I’m less tormented with pain this year. I’m still confused. I’m trying to make sense of Jesus’ words. I’m trying not to lash out at the guards holding hammers and nails or my fellow Jews spitting and scoffing on Messiah as they cry out for his blood to be spilt on their own hands. What can I do but mourn? I know he had to do this, but I don’t understand. I know I can’t fight for him, but I don’t understand. I know he has promises to keep, but I don’t understand how he can keep them in a silent grave.
As far as I know, he was wrong and now he is dead. I want him to get up, but he doesn’t. Today is the worst day I’ve ever breathed. Tomorrow doesn’t seem much brighter. This is a bad Friday.
I don’t yet see the spectacle He has made of the powers and authorities.
I don’t yet see death’s great defeat.
On this Friday, a crucified false Savior is all my eyes behold.
In confusion is my hope and in uncertainty my strength.
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- From: TheGreatBout@xanga
- Name: Travis
- Location: United States
- About Me: Seek and you will find... or something.
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Comments (37)
wut?
"I’m trying not to lash out at the guards holding hammers and nails or my fellow Jews spitting and scoffing on Messiah as they cry out for his blood to be spilt on their own hands. What can I do but mourn?"
Why did He do this? For your sins. That is all you should be mourning for. You should see your face when you look at the guards and Jews, because it is you who has done this to Him. The innocent died in place of the guilty. Do not nullify your Christian faith by refusing to remember His saving purpose and His life-giving salvation, just for the sake of it being Good Friday.
Martha
I honestly thought I was the only one who felt this way.
I find your blog very interesting. I will be visiting you.
Please visit me at
www.yesugarden.blogspot.com
Amrita from India
I'm the same way!!
I must admit I can't relate to this specific paragraph:
"As far as I know, he was wrong and now he is dead. I want him to get up, but he doesn’t. Today is the worst day I’ve ever breathed. Tomorrow doesn’t seem much brighter. This is a bad Friday."
We should remember His pain and all he went through, but what do you mean "he doesn't" get up? Remember that "Good Friday" is not the end.
And as my pastor says, "Don't see this as a tragedy. Because it was all in God's plan." Defeat? Not at all! Jesus took the path He chose and successfully died for our sins.
I guess I agree with @YuetMooNEvelyN@xanga - Yes, Jesus was taken into a grave, but he rose in great victory over everything as the soverign ruler and king of this universe. It was a good Friday because Gods will was done.
But I admire your spirit of love towards our King who was killed by those he died for and loved. It is a sad thing that brings joy to our life for without it he would not have been glorified!
I found this an interesting read ---- seemingly,almost, from the perspective of someone actually being there -- which makes sense. I'm sure the disciples and all those who loved Jesus and didn't fully understand His role as Messiah were surely terribly saddened and grieved that Friday.
However, today is GOOD Friday. I heard a powerful sermon today based on John's narrative, of how Jesus' kingship was shown through his suffering and death. All through the passion week - He orchestrated every single last thing - He was never surprised or taken aback by events. He gave himself up! In more ways than one. He showed, not just his High Priestly position, but also His Kingly position by what He did. The Cross - the emblem of the Christian Church - is a powerful symbol of Christ's Kingship and Redeeming work. It is not an awful thing. It is a glorious thing! Made even more glorious by Sunday morning. Hallelujah - He IS victorious and was even so many years ago the day He died for us. Satan didn't know it --- and he rejoiced, but not for long. Yet, JEsus knew ------ Jesus knew the Victory was HIS. GOOD FRIDAY!
That's why the cross holds NOTHING for me other than a symbol of death. The real triumph is the empty tomb. We must understand that and NEVER forget it. In all actuality, I agree, this was a terrible day. In the early hours of the morning, our Lord and Savior was in a garden, bleeding from every pore, only to happen a few hour later to be betrayed by one of His own, tried illegally, scourged, humiliated and nailed to a cross. It was on this day that He died. However, we must remember that even though this day was a black as it could get, Sunday will come, and the tomb will be empty, and the angel will say, "HE IS RISEN". That's the true victory. Victory over death, that we too may be resurrected, and victory from sin so long as we are obedient.
As far as I know, he was wrong and now he is dead. I want him to get up, but he doesn’t. Today is the worst day I’ve ever breathed. Tomorrow doesn’t seem much brighter. This is a bad Friday.
I love this. It's like, that's how the apostles must have felt when He was crucified. They're watching their hope, their--our--salvation--being nailed down to a cross to die. They could do nothing. They were told that He would come back, but how could they believe it after witnessing this? And yet, it is also a Good Friday, for:I don’t yet see the spectacle He has made of the powers and authorities.
In confusion is my hope and in uncertainty my strength.I don’t yet see death’s great defeat.
On this Friday, a crucified false Savior is all my eyes behold.
Even though the disciples did not know it, the worst event in their lives would be indeed to greatest event in all our lives, when death's dominion was broken, and the lies were uncovered by Truth. Quite wonderful.
I can see what you are saying. It is definatly an interesting read. It was probably what the disciples were thining, but in my mind they shouldnt have been thinking this too. Jesus spoke to them about everything that would happen. He told them that someone would deny Him ect. So i think that this very well could be what the disciples were thinking, but everything was laid out, they knew that He would die, it was showed at the last supper. "this is my body broken for you"
Good blog, very interesting take on good friday. For me I alway have to look ahead to the hope that Jesus rose from the grave in victory, and that because He did that we are free from the bonds of hell. All we have to do is believe and accept. God bless you this easter season.
@YuetMooNEvelyN@xanga - @deepestrecesses - One thing I can't stand about Protestant celebrations of Good Friday is that they can't keep a surprise. It's not Sunday yet. Shhhhh.
Last night my pastor mentioned the resurrection at the end of the service, and the congregation cheered, and I wanted to yell, "Not yet! You have to mourn before you can be comforted!"
actually, I just learned about this.
Jesus was crucified on Thursday. This year lines up with the calender that year, with passover beginning at Sundown Wednesday night (which according to the Jewish calender is the beginning of Thursday). Jesus prayed through the night in the garden and asked his disciples to watch with Him because it was a 'watch night' just as the first night of the passover for Israel as they waited for the final plague to end and for God to release them from Egypt. Judas then came to him that night/morning, and Jesus was tried that morning and crucified, and died by about noon on Thursday. Joseph then took Jesus' body down that night because the following day would be Friday, the day of preparation for the Sabbath.
I have never understood why it has been believed this happened on Friday, because that is only two days from Sunday.
13th Firday ....
@quiet_strength - historically the Jews regarded even half a day as a full day... so Friday counts fully even if He was crucified and died in the afternoon...
The Cross is a symbol of the payment for my sins full paid for... His death is our freedom from sin and death and the Cross is our justification... His Resurrection is our expiation... but that comes later... tomorrow...
@ChrisRusso@xanga - Exactly! Skipping right over Jesus' passion is NOT a good thing. It's the same as taking him off the cross. Which leads to...
@J_Goldens_Shadow@xanga - Why don't you have an empty tomb on the steeple of your church, in that case?
Good post, good thoughts!
the bad criminal says to Jesus "Fool why do you embrace your cross..."
"I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force! Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for him."-Napoleon Bonaparte
@ChrisRusso@xanga - yeah, but do we celebrate Jesus' death or do we celebrate his ressurection? I have always considered his death and resurection to be a Victory- not a reason for mourning. The reason for mourning, at least as I have always felt, has come from my wretched sin that he had to bear.
To me, his death/resurection have always been cause for tears... but those were tears of Joy because I know the vicotry in Jesus that we now have.
@ChrisRusso@xanga - Mourning comes before rejoicing: you're right. But do we err in pointing to the victory that will come?
The author here is correct about the feelings about the Friday of defeat: that is all it seems to be (but Sunday's coming!). At our Rest Home Service Friday, my friend Jack questioned the title "Good Friday" just like this author, but then pointed to the reason for the cross.
The cross is a symbol of the suffering Jesus went through for us. Horrible, yes, but it IS Good Friday because he died for our sins, so that we may have eternal life. Hope. Promise. Death is not the end, as proved by his resurection. These are very good things. I hate when people complain about calling it "good" friday, and scratch their heads going "Jesus died, how is that good??"
It's all appreciation man.
People need to start thinking, and stop taking things at face value.
@quiet_strength - the reason it's three days is because people then counted the day they were on as 1 day so 3 days were there.
I guess I might've felt that way if I was alive during Jesus' time. If I was one of his disciples who saw all he taught and all the miracles He did first hand and then saw Him die and stay dead for three days I guess I'd feel like that. But Its a little hard for me to dwell on Friday when I KNOW Sunday is coming...you know? Its always been my truth, my reality that Jesus died....AND WAS RESURRECTED ON THE THIRD DAY. Maybe the disciples cried and thought He was a "fasle saviour" because they didn't know what was coming in three days but being the fact that I know He died and He rose and that He is Risen, He is Alive , I don't doubt and I don't morn I just say "Thank You Jesus", because He did it for me, all that horrible pain and suffereing. & Anyway Just so you know on Good Friday April 10th 2009 Jesus WAS ALIVE. So don't morn like He's gone and died again, He alive forevermore. Good Friday is just a day for us to remember what He did, its not as if every Good Friday He is crucified and dies again. No, He's alive! He is the Everlasting God. So stop crying & rejoice!
travis, i appreciate your candid honesty in how you're feeling..and so does He. keep seeking to understand, and ask Him to reveal understanding and administer peace to you, as is my prayer for you and those who feel the same.
it too rips me apart to think of Jesus taking on all this and being separated from His Father's presence for those 3 days..and He did it all for us, and even for the many who would reject His sacrificial gift. for believers, this alone should spur us on to carry our own cross and live always shining His light and sharing His gift with a zeal that surpasses all norms greatly.