Sunday, April 1, 2001
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Sunday, April 1, 2001 |
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The seven last words from the cross By JUSTIN KOLLMEYER
It seems strange that we call it "Good Friday." The day Jesus died. The day Jesus was crucified. And yet, we call it "Good." We're right, you know. It was "Good"! Good for the world of sin in need of a savior! Good for lost sinners. And it is still "Good"! Good for you. And good for me. On that first "Good Friday" Jesus hung on the cross from noon until 3 o'clock. Even in his suffering and pain Jesus uttered several phrases that have echoed down through the ages. There are seven of them, and these utterances have become affectionately known as "the seven last words from the cross". The gospel writers in the New Testament have left us a record of these "words", giving us a marvelous insight into the heart and mind of Jesus. It is the custom of many Christians to read aloud and ponder these "words" and their meaning and implication every Good Friday. We will do that here at Prince of Peace in our "Tenebrae" service Good Friday night. Many of you will do the same. If you won't be at a worship service on Good Friday in your church or in one of our community churches, here are these "words" and a very brief reflection, which I offer you for your meditation on Good Friday this year, April 13. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Jesus said many wonderful things, but rarely anything more wonderful than this! There is nothing so lovely and nothing so rare as Christian forgiveness. When an unforgiving spirit is threatening to turn our hearts to bitterness, let us hear again our Lord asking forgiveness for those who crucified him. "Today you will be with me in Paradise." Surely this word, spoken to one of the thieves crucified next to Jesus, tells us above all that it is never too late to turn to Jesus. There are other things of which we must say, "The time is past. I have grown too old now." But we can never say that of turning to Jesus Christ. "Behold your mother ... behold your son." There is something infinitely moving in the fact that Jesus in the agony of the cross, when the salvation of the world hung in the balance, thought of the loneliness of his mother in the days ahead. In commending his mother to his friend and disciple John, and John to Mary, even on the cross, Jesus was thinking more of the sorrows of others than of his own. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This is one of the most staggering sentences of the gospel record. In human experience, as life goes on and as bitter tragedy enters into it, there comes a time when we all feel that God has forgotten us. Even Jesus felt this. But here is the precious thing. Victory belongs to the person who refuses to believe that God has forgotten, even when every fiber feels forsaken. Victory belongs to the one who will never let go of faith, even when it seems that its last strand is gone. Victory belongs to the one who has been beaten to the depths, and still holds on to God, for that is what Jesus did. "I thirst." This brings us face to face with the human suffering of Jesus. If Jesus were to redeem humankind from the curse of sin infecting humankind, he must become human. He had to become what we are in order to make us what he is. Jesus was, indeed, really human and really underwent the agony of the cross. In this simple word, "I thirst," we are sure of the real humanity and the real suffering of Jesus. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Jesus died with a prayer on his lips. This particular prayer was the prayer every Jewish mother taught her child to say the last thing at night. Just as we might be taught to pray, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep," Jesus lay down his life with his prayer that his father in heaven would receive his spirit at his earthly death. Even on a cross Jesus died like a child falling asleep in his father's arms. "It is finished." This is not the agony of defeat. Even through expiring lips, it is the thrill of victory! This is the shout of joy because victory is won! Jesus' earthly life was finished. The life's work of the man of love was finished. The suffering of an innocent sacrifice was finished. The salvation of the world from sin was finished. Victory was his! Victory is ours! It is "Good Friday" all right! I hope and pray that you will worship and pray and ponder these magnificent "seven last words from the cross". And don't forget to return
to the tomb on Easter Sunday morning My family and I wish you and your family the blessings of Holy Week and Easter! "Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!" The Rev. Justin Kollmeyer is senior pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fayetteville on Ga. Highway 314 between Lowe's and The Pavilion. Anyone without a church home is invited to worship on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. For information call 770-461-3403 or log-on at www.popdove.com.
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