Lenten Devotional: Good Friday, 3/21/2008

And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; bu when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews!” From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. - Matthew 27:33-37, 45-46, 50

I think this is without a doubt the darkest moment I have ever heard about, the death of Jesus. And I usually ask myself the question, “Why did there have to be such a sacrifice?” Why did it happen this way? I think it had to be sacrifice with a purpose of great magnitude. Jesus’ followers felt indescribable pain at the crucifixion, but their pain and grief was a part of God’s plan for man’s salvation. We all experience dark moments in our lives. No one is free of pain in life. I can remember vividly when I lost my Father at age 6 and then my Mother at age 11 (almost 12). I really thought life was over for me and felt as lost in this world as I could possibly feel. I had lost the very people in this world that made me feel most secure. Believers had lost their Savior. Mary had lost a son and the disciples had lost their brother and leader.
After the death of my parents, my brothers and I were sent away to live with relatives. And as time went by and we were supported and cared for by relatives, we gradually came out of the darkness. We can find life again even after death. I am certain that because of the Good Friday story many lives changed. I know there was a lot of grief over Jesus’ death but the darkness would soon be overcome. The process of finding a place in the world and gaining strength may take some time and yes, there will always be the question for me – “Why did there have to be such a sacrifice?”

By M.W.