Devotion - Good Friday

At our Tuesday night bible study we had the discussion of which day defines Christianity:  Is it Easter morning?  Or Good Friday?

"Easter" is the title that we use to speak of the core Christian affirmation.  It can be a reference to the actual Sunday morning events.  But it can also refer to the whole chain of events.  When we say "We are Easter people," it means that we are those who speak of life and meaning and purpose and faith in relation to the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus.

And for many Easter morning is the pivotal event - Jesus is raised, thus making resurrection a promise for each of us.

For others, Good Friday speaks to their experience.  Jesus pays the price for our sins.  Jesus' death means that death has lost its grip.

There was on Tuesday a disagreement as to which day defines Christianity.  This differing of perspectives is not always between differing individuals.  It will also emerge at differing times in the life of any one individual.  There will be times in our lives when one image speaks more powerfully than the other.

This morning what speaks to me is Jesus' faithfulness to God's Word and God's vision.  Jesus spoke of a God who does not become contained and neatly packaged by any of the forces which would like to control Him.  "Religious authorities," nor "political kingpins" get to tell God's chosen one the meaning of life or the purpose for living.  Jesus told them "No!"  And in response they murdered him.  But they did not defeat him.  And they did not remove from the face of the earth God's insistence that our purpose in life is to care for others, to speak of God's acceptance of others, and to make life decisions based on what is best for the common good.

This is what Jesus said.  The powers of this world saw the danger in such a message and had him put to death.  God confirms that this is the way by restoring life to the One who carried this message in his very flesh.

While not meaning to turn this whole devotion into a promotion - I would close by saying that your are unlikely to be able to participate in the debate unless you experience today's liturgy and the one that will be offered some 40 hours later.  Good Friday worship is at 7:00 pm;  Easter celebration at 11:00 (there is also a sunrise service, and an 8:30 liturgy).