Good Friday: It Is Finished!
“And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let his mindset become your motivation. He existed in the form of God, yet he gave no thought to seizing equality with God as his supreme prize. Instead, he emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human! He humbled himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in his death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion!
Because of that obedience, God exalted him and multiplied his greatness! He has now been given the greatest of all names! The authority of the name of Jesus causes every knee to bow in reverence! Everything and everyone will one day submit to this name—in the heavenly realm, in the earthly realm, and in the demonic realm. And every tongue will proclaim in every language: “Jesus Christ is Lord Yahweh,” bringing glory and honor to God, his Father!
– Philippians 2:5-11
The rigged trial, the mob that howled for the blood of Jesus, the brutal beating, the savage soldiers, the stumbling walk through the city. Finally, the nails pounded into flesh, the tortured body jerked upright, the naked man dying as his enemies jeered. It was the darkest day. The unbearable day.
It is finished!
As darkness falls over the Earth on Good Friday ... God's own son goes into the deep darkness, even death, to save us from the dark of our own hearts. The wounds that marked His body, grotesque to even take even ... became a sign. It was not just the cruel death of Jesus, but the death of their faith, the end of all they believed in, on this Friday that seemed anything but good.
It is finished!
Remembering our own ashen state, we see His suffering as a clear picture of the frailty of human existence. And though many times we may somehow think we’re invincible in this life, or even led to believe that we are not “needy” of a Savior, when hit with life’s struggles or face to face with painful events, we quickly remember, we need help. We need a Savior. We have One, who also was broken, in ways we could never fully comprehend, yet he remained strong and chose to endure it all - for us. He extends grace to remind us we don’t have to stay stuck in our struggle and pain. He holds good in-store through it all, able to bring greater purpose, greater beauty, greater strength. He never intends for us to remain in the pit of our despair. For he breathes fresh life.
It is finished!
The narrative of Good Friday reminds us that today is a day of loss and defeat; Sunday is a day of recovery and victory. Friday and Sunday summarize the drama of the gospel that continues to be re-performed, in the life of a believer. Can you hear him speaking those powerful words, “It is finished,” over your life.
We may be in a grave … but resurrection will come to us. So as we wait - we echo the words of Walter Brueggemann: “We dare pray while the darkness descends and the earthquake trembles. We dare pray for eyes to see fully and mouths to speak fully the power of death all around. We dare pray for a capacity to notice unflinching that in our happy playgrounds other children die, and grow silent. We pray more for your notice and your promise and your healing. Our only urging on Friday is that you live this as we must: impacted but not destroyed; dimmed but not quenched. For your great staying power and your promise of newness we praise you. It is in your power and your promise that we take our stand this day. We dare trust that Friday is never the last day, so we watch for the new day of life. Hear our prayer and be your full self toward us. Amen!”
Stay strong, stay faithful … God is doing a great thing!