ON THE VANGUARD

GOOD FRIDAY
“When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”
John 19:30

In looking further at the final days of Christ’s life, we now find ourselves on what has since been termed Good Friday. May I ask? What is so good about it? While I do not claim to have all the answers, I do want to take a moment to point out one event that would have made this Friday good. To understand it, though, I want to start in looking at the trials. Jesus had questioned the angry mob that met Him in the garden as to why they had not sought to take Him before if they felt He was the leader of a revolt. But now, standing before Annas, He asked them again. “I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me?” Here Jesus openly answered a question concerning His teaching, but following His response He received a strike in His face (John 18:20-22). For answering a question He received a punch in the face? That doesn’t sound good.
Leaving Annas, Jesus was transferred to Caiaphas, the high priest, where again He was questioned. However, it is here that we read the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus in order to put Him away (Mk 14:55). Finding no one, or maybe few, many false witnesses spoke against the Christ, and their stories did not match. The decision of the high priest was already made up, and nothing Jesus could say would change it. Caiaphas ended his interrogation calling the Christ a blasphemer, upon which Jesus was struck again and mocked to prophesy who hit Him. This still doesn’t sound very good.
Lastly, Jesus stood before Pilate. He was innocent yet given over to Pilate with the pretense of being a criminal (Jn 18:30). Hearing that they were bringing Jesus before him as not only a criminal, but as one who faced the death penalty, Pilate took Jesus aside for his own questioning. Pilate found no reason that Jesus should die or have these strong accusations placed on Him (Jn 18:38). Nevertheless, when Pilate announced one criminal was free to go, giving the crowd the choice of Jesus or Barabbas, the crowds chose Barabbas, a known and feared murderer. With the chanting of the crowd in unison demanding Christ be crucified, Pilate washed his hands of their decision. Now Jesus faced death. This sure doesn’t sound good.
Soldiers led Jesus away to the Praetorium where a whole band of soldiers were called on to abuse the Christ. They put a purple robe on Him and a crown of weaved thorn branches, then mocked His majesty. Over and over they beat Him with their fists, spit on Him, and forced Him to His knees in surrender. And if that wasn’t enough, Jesus was forced to carry His own cross before collapsing on the road to Golgotha. It was here that more torture was endured as they nailed Him to the cross in His feet and wrists, leaving Him to hang and die. I will admit, I have had many bad days at the office, but nothing like this. This still sounds nowhere close to good.
But wait a minute because the good is coming to this Friday in history. It is hard to see, but if we look at John 19:30 it can be found. “When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” TETELESTAI. It, at that moment, was finished. These same words were spoken by the priests who would perform sacrifices. Because on Passover the priest would sacrifice the one lamb selected on the 10th of Nisan, many people would come to the ceremony. But with so many, only the people in the front would know when the action was done. Those in the front would then yell back to the crowd that the event was finished. And here, Christ declared once and for all, it is finished. With this, He surrendered His life.
I don’t know about you, but this final portion, although still sad and unjust, seems to bring balance to Good Friday. It was because of all these actions that took place that I am free. My bondage is finished. My chains are finished. My addictions are finished. My sin, my negative confessions, my stupid moments of flesh, they are all finished. Jesus took upon Himself our junk, finishing off the hold it had on us. That makes for a Good Friday. His sacrifice purchased my freedom.