Good (?) Friday

A repost of last year's reflections on Good Friday.

The man on the cross is no mere martyr who identifies with the oppressed - He is the Son of God being the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

Some would identify Jesus as the symbol of all who would suffer oppression, injustice, hardship, loss, grief, and hatred.  He certainly did suffer those things and promised that those who follow Him would as well.  But you can suffer and become bitter.  You can endure hardship and come out hard-hearted.  So no, He's no mere symbol.

He's the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  That's what He's doing on the cross.  He can be more for us than that as He agonizes there, but it must start there.  His atoning work becomes the portal for all the other things God will do (Rom. 8.32).

I write this at 3:01pm, the hour according to the Bible that Jesus cried His last words and breathed His last breath.  Indeed, it is finished.  Amen.