Good Friday (April 3, 2015) – John 18:1-19:42
John 18:1-19:42
Living Abundantly
Good Friday – April 3, 2015
First Lutheran Church – Winnipeg, MB
I have said many times that in John’s account of Jesus’ passion or suffering,
there is very little suffering.
In John there is no agony in garden.
No questioning of his resolve.
In Mark Jesus may have said, as we heard on Sunday,
“Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from me.”
But in John Jesus says very confidently,
“Am I not to drink of the cup the Father has offered me?”
He is in charge throughout, whether he is dealing with soldiers, the chief priests,
the high priest, or even Pilate.
We get the sense, even, in his long episode with Pilate that it is not so much Jesus who is
on trial, but Pilate.
And on it goes, until the very end.
In John’s Gospel, the closer Jesus gets to death, somehow, the more alive he becomes.
He has spoken throughout the Gospel of eternal life or, a much better translation, abundant life.
And here, on the cross, he shows how there is no barrier to that life when one’s life is
lived within and out of God’s divine life of abundant abundant love.
As the time approaches for Jesus to die in John’s Gospel,
he’s at it again.
He remains in charge from what John understands to be his throne: the cross,
the sign of his love, the throne of love, from which Jesus will usher in a reign of love.
As he dies, his last act is an act of love, of creating life, and relationship, and community.
He looks down, and sees an opportunity to create community between a
mother – his own mother – who will now be bereft of a son – and his
most beloved disciple, who will now similarly be bereft of a brother and friend.
And so he says, “Woman, here is a son for you. And son, here is a mother.”
Jesus is saying that where he is present, the absolute worst can still be a place of life.
For he and his love have entered into the very heart of the worst,
into the heart of darkest experience, in order to bring light and love and life.
That is why we adore the cross on this day: for it assures us that there is no place so dark that
God in Christ cannot reign from – and transform into a place of life and love.
And that is the great news, the wondrous great good news, on this Good Friday.
There is no place that God in Christ cannot now reign from.
In the Philippines there is a city named Baguio, with a wonderful cathedral that has a
wonderful, traditional looking crucifix out front.
But on a wooded hill in that city you will find another crucifix,
one that is not quite so traditional.
On this crucifix, Jesus’ feet and left hand are nailed to the light, reddish-brown wood.
But, writes Chaplain David Keck, his right hand is reaching out to those who come to the cross. . . He is inviting us to be with him, even to join him on the cross. (Christian Century, Mar. 8/15, 22)
Now here’s the thing:
Jesus’ face on this crucifix has the most delight-filled, wonderful look.
I like to think that this is the gesture and that this is the look on Jesus’ face when
he invites Mary and the beloved disciple to form a new family.
And I like to think that that is the look he has on his face this morning as he
invites us into community together at the foot of the cross and so
into abundant life with him, a life that gives, even on the cross.
The look of eagerness on his face expresses that he is eager to
“share a new way of living abundantly with us.” (ibid)
A way of loving the world and every person in it – the way the triune God of
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live the life of love, by endlessly giving love and
endlessly receiving love.
Jesus with his hand outstretched and a look of delight on his face invites us into
that life this morning, this joyous, divine-filled, loving life.
A life that proclaims even from a cross that there is now no place that
God in Christ cannot reign from.
And transform into a place of life.
There is no place now that cannot be transformed from a cross into a tree of life
by this endless, tenacious love that will not and never will let us go despite everything.
For the instrument of death has become the tree of life.
And it has become – against all odds– something beautiful.
And Jesus face has become– against all odds – beautiful.
And his nail-scarred hand inviting us has become– against every odd – beautiful.
For life with him on the cross – despite its difficulty, despite its demands on us, despite everything – is also life with him on the tree of life, a life tucked within the life of the
Triune God, a life that is lived for the sake a dark world and for our neighbours in need.
That life, lived within that truly divine life, is life abundant according to Jesus: it is eternal life.
And it is a beautiful way to live.
Truly there is no place that God in Christ cannot now reign from, and bring life.
That is the good news on this Good Friday.
So together, let us say, “Amen.”
Pastor Michael Kurtz
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