By Rev. Fr. G. L. Khing | EMN
The very life of Jesus was a disturbance for many people. Even the chief priest and elders refused to accept him. He disturbed the very thought of the people of his time. People preferred to be untouched by the many miracles and good works.He became the black spot among his own people. He was sought after as a criminal. He was rejected, stoned, scourged and crowned with thorns because of his faithfulness to God’s will.He underwent all insults and tortures as a meek lamb (Is.53:7). He was indeed a silent victim. Yet, the sufferings of the innocent are better than that of a criminal.
Good Friday is the anniversary of the death of Jesus on the Cross outside the walls of Jerusalem. The fact of crucifixion outside the well-built walls shows that Jesus was not wanted by people. They made him a foreigner in his own country. He died like a nomad without a home or land. He was mad for God with love for humanity. Yes, the Son of man has no place to lay his head (Lk.9:58). The only pillow was the wood of the Cross.
The term “Good Friday” emphasizes the saving value of the historical event of the crucifixion of Jesus. It is ‘Good’ (for us) because through His death, the saving work of redemption is activated. It is ‘Good’ for God and men because of its salvific implication. A great chasm between heaven and earth is bridged by the wood of the Cross. It was only through the road to Calvary that the greatest sacrifice was brought to completion. The sacrificial dimension of Jesus is highlighted. Jesus was like anyone of us in every respect (except sin) so that he might be a merciful and faithful high Priest in the service of God (Heb.2:17). “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, He became the source of Eternal Salvation to all who obey Him.” (Heb.5:8)
The sacrifice of Jesus can be called “Good” because he brought to completion all the law and the prophets (Mt.5:17-18). He was a good and faithful high priest who offered his own life on the altar of God, the world. The world is the largest altar of God with people of different races, colours and life style. The sanctification of the world came through Jesus. (We are sanctified by the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus). He did once and for all when he offered himself (Heb.7:27). Thus, the despised wood of the Cross turned into the ladder of Salvation with the Saviour of the world on it. On the other hand, the crucified Christ was a stumbling block for the Jewish nation. It appeared more awkward for the gentile (1st Cor.1:23) But, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) We must accept the reality of the Cross in order to understand more deeply the life of resurrection.
We need courage to rise from our fallen state of life. The strings of temptations and sins (that pull us back) need to be cut off so as to bind ourselves with God. Our journey towards Calvary is not a lonely one. Jesus Christ has already paved the path for us. We only follow His footsteps. The thorns on our road are cleared by him for he turned them into his crown. To follow Jesus daily is not easy for it calls for continuous self-denial. But “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phi.4:13) To deny oneself would mean ‘to live, to work and to die for God.’ (Romans 14:8)The grace of ‘self-emptying’ (continuous) is necessary so as to allow God to dwell in us. The beauty of physical life will only fade like the lilies in the field. “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Mt.16:25) and “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Lk.9:62)
Let us no longer dwell in the tomb of our wickedness. Jesus overcame death and hell for you and me so that we may have the fullness of life. We must profit from the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The death of Jesus must stir our soul. It must raise our spirit to live good Christian life. The power to overcome the darkness of death is a gift of God to all who believe in Him. So whoever believes in God even though he dies an earthly death will live forever (Jn.11:25). The sorrowful mystery will turn into a joyful mystery.
