Week 5: Good Friday

Friday Scripture: Mark 15:25-39:

It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!”  In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.


When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.”  And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was God’s Son!"

Reflection:

For the entirety of this study, we have been walking with Jesus through a week called, Holy.  Now we come to Friday, a day which is called Good.  Why good?  What could possibly be good about a naked, tortured man suspended in mid air, not even able writhe in pain because he is literally nailed still?  And yet, the day is Good, the week has been Holy.


Why?  Because “Truly this man was God’s Son!”  And these words are spoken by a Roman, a pagan, a member of Jesus’ execution squad. Mark gives us no other reason for the goodness of the day than this.  If Jesus is God’s Son, well, anything can happen.  And it will.

Invitations:

  • Reflect on this week’s scripture.  Are there any words or ideas that especially resonate with you or challenge you?

  • We know the next chapter of this story.  We know that Resurrection is just around the corner.  However, the goodness of this Friday is still a question to be asked and answered.  Why is this day GOOD for you?

  • Read all of the events of leading up to Jesus’ death in Mark 15:1-41.

Prayer:
Jesus,

I want to walk with you through this Holy Week.

Open the eyes of my heart to see you more clearly.

Open the ears of my heart to hear more clearly your love for me.

Amen.