The Big Buts of Passion Week

Friday 4.6.07
Read Matthew 27:32-61, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:66-23:51, John 18:28-19:42

Who called this day ‘good’? It wasn’t Judas. He was tormented by the decision that he had made to betray Jesus. It wasn’t Pilate. He had been bullied into crucifying a man in whom he found no fault. It wasn’t Jesus’ disciples. Those who loved Him watched in horror. It wasn’t the religious leaders. The scripture records that when Jesus died the temple veil was torn in two, and the religious leaders immediately began to worry about Jesus’ claims that He would return from the grave. It wasn’t Jesus. For our Savior there was nothing good about ‘Good Friday’. The ‘buts’ of this Friday tell the story.

Had the Kingdom come? Pilate pointed out to Jesus, ‘your people and your chief priests handed you over to me.’ Jesus replied, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were my servants would fight… but, my kingdom is from another place.’ Jesus continued, ‘But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of Almighty God.’ Pilate found no fault in Him and desired to set Jesus free. We’re told that the crowd wouldn’t accept that. ‘But the crowd shouted all the louder ‘Crucify Him!’

As they prepared to crucify Jesus a couple of more ‘buts’ of interest appear. They offered Jesus a mixture of wine and myrrh, historians tell us that this was a common practice to lessen the pain of the crucifixion, ‘but He did not take it’. Then John records that the leaders of the Jews and the people were angered by the sign placed above Jesus’ head that read ‘King of the Jews’. They protested, ‘don’t make it read ‘King of the Jews’ but rather ‘This man claimed he was the King of the Jews’.

Finally as Jesus’ death approached the crowds continued mocking, ‘He claims that he is the Savior, but he cannot save Himself’. We’re told that even one of the thieves condemned alongside Jesus mocked Him, ‘but the other criminal’ we’re told, cried out to Jesus, ‘remember me when you come into your Kingdom’.

That’s a lot of big ‘buts’ and there were a number of others in the record that I haven’t mentioned. What do we make of the bold proclamation of Jesus that His Kingdom is not of this world, and that He would be seated on the right hand of God the Father? Is this the Kingdom and King we serve? What do we make of the fact that voices that shouted ‘Hosanna’ on Sunday, by Friday were shouting ‘Crucify Him!’ all the louder? How does the fact that Jesus refused the offer to lessen His suffering as they offered Him a sedative at the foot of the cross touch you? Does it strike you that the religious leaders saw Jesus’ as having clearly claimed to be their King, but that they so violently rejected Him? What of the claims that Jesus could not save Himself in that moment? What of the different perspectives of the two men condemned with Jesus – one who essentially said, ‘Do something for me if you’re who you say you are!’ and the other who simply pleaded, ‘Remember me, Jesus!’

I believe that as you wrestle with these questions you will find that what was accomplished in the words on that Friday, testified to in the words ‘it is finished!’, was good.

Father, will you clarify for me the good news of Good Friday? Will you bless me with a deeper understanding of your love, manifest to me in the events of that day?