Friday, April 06, 2007
Jesus on the Pier, originally uploaded by the big bambooly.
Reflections on Good Friday by Ian Mobsby
Good Friday. How is it possible, on this day? When we remember Jesus the man and his painful walk from Jerusalem, carrying his cross to the Hill of Golgotha, when we - humanity killed the incarnation of God. How can this Friday possibly be called Good? Good Friday
How is it possible that Jesus as the miracle of God made flesh, the hope for all peoples, how is it possible that the Messiah be killed? How is it possible that the hoped for Redeemer God, part of the Most Holy Trinity could cease to exist? How is it possible that God died whilst God still existed? How is it possible that all vengeance, hatred, violence and deceit got the better of God?
How can God’s death be hopeful?
Well in short it was not hopeful. Today is the ultimate dark night of the soul for the whole world. Church buildings and all its fabric have ceased to flow and act. It is as if the whole of life has stopped. God is dead. Darkness has covered the world, as Christ died on the cross. No one could tell what comes next – nothing was certain. The disciples fled for their lives. Jesus’ mother, Mary & Martha wait at the foot of the cross facing desolation. Where was God? What has happened. God has perished.
The cross, of all things – the ultimate guillotine or gallows – stands as the crossroads between eternity and time, as the place where the mighty heart of God was broken in a world shocked by its own barbarism. So shocked – that Judas who betrayed him took his own life. So shocked that Peter denied he knew him. God became absent – and nothing the Chief Priests could do in the temple would atone for the sins of humanity anymore – as these very priests’ hands – were tarnished with the very blood of Yahweh. The God of Israel.
So this Holy Friday – is not Good from where we stand - from the Palm Sunday through to Gethsemane through to the trial and murder of the incarnate God – killed by human hands. Only from looking back from Easter Sunday can this day ever be called Good. But for now – it is an end to all hope in God.
But yet he said in his last breath - My God My God. Why have you forsaken me? He says these words when all is lost. Though God is not there for him to see or hear, he calls him still because he can do no other. Not even the cross, not even death, not even life can destroy his love for God. This finally cannot be taken away from him – even in death. Even when his heart is broken.
As we look on at this desolate scene – we see Mary the God-bearer, and once again, she is pivotal in God’s blessing. She does not flea, she does not fear for her life, even in the most desperate pain of the death of her Son and the hope she had dashed from her that she received from an Angel. Even in such darkness – she holds onto faith. In this bleakness – she models what we are called to live. To trust and seek God even in the darkest most horrific moments of life. She waited on God even when she held her dead son in her arms …. And so must we wait on God in this most dark of hours.
So maybe it is this final love of God and us that cannot be broken, this makes this Friday - Good Friday.
If you are around in London today on Good Friday- come to our Moot God is Dead Service - as flyer below
Tags: Reflections on Good Friday by Ian Mobsby
Good Friday. How is it possible, on this day? When we remember Jesus the man and his painful walk from Jerusalem, carrying his cross to the Hill of Golgotha, when we - humanity killed the incarnation of God. How can this Friday possibly be called Good? Good Friday
How is it possible that Jesus as the miracle of God made flesh, the hope for all peoples, how is it possible that the Messiah be killed? How is it possible that the hoped for Redeemer God, part of the Most Holy Trinity could cease to exist? How is it possible that God died whilst God still existed? How is it possible that all vengeance, hatred, violence and deceit got the better of God?
How can God’s death be hopeful?
Well in short it was not hopeful. Today is the ultimate dark night of the soul for the whole world. Church buildings and all its fabric have ceased to flow and act. It is as if the whole of life has stopped. God is dead. Darkness has covered the world, as Christ died on the cross. No one could tell what comes next – nothing was certain. The disciples fled for their lives. Jesus’ mother, Mary & Martha wait at the foot of the cross facing desolation. Where was God? What has happened. God has perished.
The cross, of all things – the ultimate guillotine or gallows – stands as the crossroads between eternity and time, as the place where the mighty heart of God was broken in a world shocked by its own barbarism. So shocked – that Judas who betrayed him took his own life. So shocked that Peter denied he knew him. God became absent – and nothing the Chief Priests could do in the temple would atone for the sins of humanity anymore – as these very priests’ hands – were tarnished with the very blood of Yahweh. The God of Israel.
So this Holy Friday – is not Good from where we stand - from the Palm Sunday through to Gethsemane through to the trial and murder of the incarnate God – killed by human hands. Only from looking back from Easter Sunday can this day ever be called Good. But for now – it is an end to all hope in God.
But yet he said in his last breath - My God My God. Why have you forsaken me? He says these words when all is lost. Though God is not there for him to see or hear, he calls him still because he can do no other. Not even the cross, not even death, not even life can destroy his love for God. This finally cannot be taken away from him – even in death. Even when his heart is broken.
As we look on at this desolate scene – we see Mary the God-bearer, and once again, she is pivotal in God’s blessing. She does not flea, she does not fear for her life, even in the most desperate pain of the death of her Son and the hope she had dashed from her that she received from an Angel. Even in such darkness – she holds onto faith. In this bleakness – she models what we are called to live. To trust and seek God even in the darkest most horrific moments of life. She waited on God even when she held her dead son in her arms …. And so must we wait on God in this most dark of hours.
So maybe it is this final love of God and us that cannot be broken, this makes this Friday - Good Friday.
If you are around in London today on Good Friday- come to our Moot God is Dead Service - as flyer below
