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| Good Friday: was it a sad day, or much more? |
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I was a little unsure how to feel last evening at our church's Good Friday service. As Pastor Dan and assistant (who was that woman?) read the story of Jesus' arrest/trial/crucifixion, followed by short message, music, and communion, I heard many sniffles around the room, saw a few people wipe their eyes, heads hanging down. Now I know that Jesus the man went through intense torture and pain leading up to his death, and I also know that my own sin played a big part in putting him through all of that suffering. But come on, Jesus wasn't just a mere man suffering physical torture. Consider what Paul wrote about Jesus: 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; 1:16 for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. In light of this and other scriptures like it, do we really think Jesus' physical pain was foremost in his mind as he suffered humiliating treatment at the hands of men? Do we think the crown of thorns, the cat of nine tails (scourging), and those oversized nails were the worst he faced? I wonder how bad his treatment at the hands of God the Father must have been as Jesus literally became sin for us, suffering a spiritual death on our behalf. Truly, last evening I was confused emotionally, I felt like a deer caught in the headlights, as I tried to ponder the magnitude of our Savior's sacrifice. To rack my heart over his physical trauma felt so petty to me at the time. And to further complicate, even as Pastor Dan reminded us that Sunday's coming, along with the joy of celebrating the resurrection, in my heart Sunday had already come. There's no intention to judge anyone here regarding where you were or what you did last evening. I'm just wondering before the community, expressing my honest thoughts. I really would like to know if anyone else experienced any of these feelings. Is Good Friday a sad day, or is it much, much more? |
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| To add a comment to "Good Friday: was it a sad day, or much more?" |
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| April 07, 2007 |
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That was Jan Johns reading with Pastor Dan (http://www.mychurch.org/member/10491/janjohns). I thought they did a fantabulous job!!! The message I heard was hololistic one - Pastor Dan's teaching of Christ's crucifixion included the events leading up to it, the resurrection and the message of death conquered. Amen, Sunday is coming!!! :-) |
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| April 07, 2007 |
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| I had similar thoughts and emotions and at times I wondered why I didn't have more emotion. I think we mourn the death of our LORD; but I think at the same time we mourn the fact that we all played a part in his murder. Our sins did that. Now that's what gets me.
But there is another purpose surrounding the crucifixion. As good modern evangelicals, we tend to highlight the "substitutionary atonement" aspect of the cross. This certainly is an important doctrine. But there's another piece, equally important, and that's the "Christus Victor" aspect of the cross.
Christ's death was victorious. Through the cross He "disarmed principalities and powers." Disarmed. He took Satan's gun away. So that we are no longer in "bondage to decay" Paul writes.
So that cross in one sense is heartbreaking, but in another sense, it's breathtaking as we consider that Satan and death no longer sting.
Jan Johns assisted Dan last night; she's been coming to the church for quite awhile, she's also the co-host of Real Life Matters... www.reallifematters.com.
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| April 07, 2007 |
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Yes, I too thought the presentation was very stirring and well done! Our time at that service simply couldn't have been better spent! I am also a little embarassed to discover that the woman assisting (whom I didn't recognize) was a semi-celebrity! (ha ha) Thanks for such an insightful response, Pastor Mark. Awesome! I really wouldn't mind hearing how others felt on Good Friday?? ~mike |
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| April 08, 2007 |
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For those who have ears to hear...the natural struggle is only a shadow of what the spiritual struggle is. It is the tip of the iceberg. The natural struggle is the 10% that can be seen and the spiritual struggle is the 90% that can not be seen. Depending on where one is in their walk with God, they may be only able to handle the 10% that represents the natural suffering of the Christ. Combined with the other 90% we see Christ's Victory as Pastor Mark explained. One can only imagine the spiritual struggle that was taking place - and I pray I never really know it. |
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| April 08, 2007 |
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Thanks for the positive feedback. As we were practicing, Jan and I were talking about how emotionally draining this was just to prepare, and how much harder it would be when we were inviting the congregation to follow along with us. This was her first time to try something like this and Jan was outstanding. Good Friday brings out mixed feelings for me, as well. On the one hand, if we go about it in a way that says (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) "We all knows this turns out." then we should probably spare ourselves the time and effort. On the other hand, if we focus totally on the spiritual/temporal confrontation that took place and just leave it with that stone being rolled across the face of the tomb...well, I think you'd have to man the crisis hotlines. (Mike, you have given me some ideas for next year...) To tag onto what Mark said above, I think we need this contrast to appreciate Christus Victor. The declaration "He is risen!" only has real meaning when we've walked through Good Friday and find ourselves standing at the tomb, wondering how God's going to work this one out. |
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| July 27, 2007 |
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How I feel depends on where I am in my relationship with Christ. I was born and raised Christian, but I was near 30 before I really began to really feel any real connection, any real sense of relationship. I thought off and on, but the feeling part of the relationship began on my late night walks to the dumpster at the end of the apartment complex. I had wanted a stronger relationship, but I didn't know how to get it.
I had only been to 1-2 Good Friday services before in my life, but I attended one when I was around 38 as I was going through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). In that particular service, I was filled with a tremendous sense of awe for our God. Here was God, willingly humbling Himself before us, taking the punishment that I deserved so that I could be free from guilt, so that I could be free, so that I could approach Him with courage, confidence, and love.
Why did he have to die? Why did it have to be on a cross? What's the point? Aren't those the questions that all christians pose as they mature in their faith?
Yes, He rose from the dead. Yes, He conquered death. Yes, He is Lord of all. Yes, we are forgiven. But it is in seeing His death that we internalize the depths of His love for us. This is one way in which we can relate to the point of Christ's life - to restore our relationship with God.
I "got" communion about two years before that. Before I got it, it was a remembrance akin to, "wow....that was really special. Christ died for me. For he's a jolly good fellow." Intellectually, I could parrot back what I had been taught, but I didn't get it. I'll skip the very long story that leads to this, but I reached a point where I found myself studying scripture for hours on end, praying very hard for long periods of time, pounding my fist on the table at 3:00am and in my hdead screaming out in anger, "God, I believe what you're telling me but I don't get it!"
The next time I received communion, I got it! Worshiping in spirit and in truth. I was there, as I've been many times since. The intense presence and love of Christ were overwhelming. I felt the same thing at my Good Friday experience in RCIA a year or 2 later. Worship in reverence in awe.
I wish I could tell you that every communion and every Good Friday have been the same way, but they haven't. I have shades of those experiences at each event, but it's not the same every time. Those first events can never be experienced in the same way, because for me, that when I fell in Love with Christ. My first communion experience was my first face-to-face encounter with Christ. that's when I met Him for the very first time. I wasn't reading about Him, I wasn't hearing about Him, I wasn't talking to Him....someplace.....out there. There he was, standing, right in front of me, His light and His love all around. He drove his flesh and his blood straight into me. I touched Him, and He totally embraced me.
So as I approached the cross on that Good Friday, I had deep sense of love, honor, and awe, thinking of each sin, seeing him look at me on the way to the cross, seeing each scurge, seeing him nailed, and hearing Him say, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
That Good Friday was like no other. But that was part of a season in my life of faith, a season of falling in love.
A key element in my conversion experience was a willingness to be led, even if it was to a place where I didn't want to go. It was odd to let go of that control, but in doing so He led to be a place where I could actually, physically, experience Him. I have been permanently changed through this. This is what it means to Let Go and Let God. It can be so hard, but it can be so joyous.
I encourage you to take that next step if you haven't already done so, to tell God, with your voice and not just in your head, that you are willing to let Him lead you, even if it is to a place where you do not want to go.
In doing so, you'll no longer ever be concerned about how to feel about Good Friday.
~ Gene |
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| July 27, 2007 |
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| Gene, that was excellently written. Some very deep thoughts, I appreciate so much that you shared them on my blog -- I'm honored! Interesting that you went from Baptist to Catholic, usually it's the other way, at least that's what I'm accustomed to seeing since Maryland is a heavily Catholic state (was established as a "colony for Catholics" prior to the birth of this nation). At any rate, I'm elated that you've found Christ in such a personal way. In fact, your faith experience is somewhat like my own in that after growing up in a Christian home you solidified your faith as a somewhat middle-aged guy. A little late, but at least we're in the right place now!! God bless! ~mike |
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| July 27, 2007 |
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Mike, I know several who've flipped one way or the other. The bottom line for me is being willing to let God to place us where He wants us to be so that He can work in us and through us. Personally, I can't fathom leaving the Catholic church. I have experienced too many personal interactions with Christ through it. My conversion story is far too long to get into and it continues today. I can only tell you that it began first with an insatiable desire to separate the wheat from the chaff. There was a very discernable moment that I very clearly recall where I was. I was instantly, deeply driven to study the written Word of God. Through that, I began to encounter a sensation that God was somehow near me. However, it was my communion experience was put me right there, face-to-face with God the Son. At a time when I was trying to sort out which religion I needed to belong to, the choice suddenly was narrowed down to 2, maybe 3. I did NOT want to become Catholic, and I was terrified that I was doing something offensive to God. I very clearly and explicitly asked God to intervene, to keep me from doing this if I was in any way going against his way. Yet I ended those prayers with a request to have the courage to go where He wanted me to go, even if it was to a place where I didn't want to go.
So here I am.
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| July 27, 2007 |
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| Gene, that is an amazing testimony, I completely take back what I said about our similar testimonies. Your story is also the very reason that I (a lifelong Protestant) do not bash the Catholic church. I've known many devout Catholics, ironically most of them were that and nothing more. They didn't know Christ nor did they show any evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Very sad, and made me wonder what the heck they learn when they go to church. I'm ecstatic to hear of your experience though! Thanks again for sharing, you've helped me a lot. ~mike |
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| July 27, 2007 |
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Someone did a survey in our area Half of the population does not attend church, yet most of them claim to be Christian. Which begs the question: What is it that happens in the life of a person that causes them to stop attending church?
Fundamentally, I do not believe that it is because people have rejected God. I believe this happens because people have rejected how God has been presented to them. I think that all churches have a group of people who will end up in this category. This may very well be more of a condemnation of the active members who do not extend Christian love to those around them.
People want to be loved. If they don't see in those around them, they'll eventually leave. A response to a simple statement you made. It's not so much a matter of what is taught, it's a matter of how that teaching is lived out among the community.
Gene
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| August 06, 2007 |
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| now I am coming late into this blog but man! Gene, that was greatly put. I did not fall in love with Christ by reading the Catechism, I feel in love with Him when I met people (dead and living) that showed me His love! |
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