The gospel of John is referred to by some as the “triumphant account” of the Passion of Christ.  There are these little hints along the way of Jesus’ divine nature – like when he says “I am” in the garden, and all of the soldiers step back and fall to the ground (Jn. 18:6), or when we hear that “Jesus knew that all was now finished” (Jn. 19:28) as he hangs on the cross.  It is the only gospel where Jesus ensures that his mother is taken care of before he dies – in fact, it is the only gospel where any of his followers are close to the cross.  In the end, his burial is like a king’s burial, involving about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes.

          All of these things are like little hints that we know the end of the story – something that is also hinted at by the name Good Friday.  The original name, it seems, was “God’s Friday,” and ever since it became “Good Friday,” people have asked “why?”.  Jesus, after all, was fully human, and able to feel the suffering inherent in being unjustly accused, condemned, flogged, and crucified – a death that was designed to be torturous.  It is also true that those who loved Jesus, and followed him, and learned from him did not necessarily know the end of the story – even though Jesus had tried to tell them.

          Isn’t the same thing true for us when we are in the midst of a shocking loss, or a grave injustice, or the suffering of a loved one, or the depths of grief and despair?  We don’t get to know the end of the story ahead of time.  In fact, there are probably times for all of us when we don’t see a shred of hope, whether it is grief, or illness, or constant pain that travels with us.  At those times, it is perhaps the Jesus whom we encounter in the Passion according to Mark (which we heard on Sunday) who touches us most deeply.

          You see, Mark was written much earlier than John, and wasn’t as concerned about symbolism, and theological statements, and a Jesus who seems far more divine than human.  No – in Mark, we get some of the earliest recollections of those who knew Jesus and who followed him.  All of them ran away, and none of them were brave enough to go anywhere near the cross.  The closest any of them got were some women who were “looking on from a distance” (Mk. 15:40).  Jesus is left, totally and utterly abandoned – so much so that he even feels abandoned by God.

          This is the Jesus who absolutely understands when we are feeling abandoned, or ridiculed, or unjustly condemned, or left to suffer in despair – especially when we don’t know the end of the story.  Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20, and it is usually after the fact that we can see how God was at work.  After all, God is the one who brings light out of darkness, strength out of weakness, and life out of death.

          Yes, we know the end of the story, but today we encounter the lengths to which God was willing to go in order to redeem us.  As the saying goes, “I asked Jesus, ‘How much do you love me?’  And Jesus said, ‘This much.’ Then he stretched out his arms and died.’”  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Good Friday                                      John 18:1-19:42

March 29, 2024

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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