Brown's Daily Word 4-10-09

Praise the Lord for this Good Friday.
It was the darkest day in human history on which Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, died on a cruel cross. Hell was let loose. The mid-day sun refused to shine when the Light of the World was crucified. Mid-day became like Midnight. Yet, the Lord accomplished some thing good and glorious at the cross on that Good Friday. We have, recorded for us, seven words of our Lord from the Cross on that Good Friday.1. "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23: 34) Forgiveness is terribly easy to ask from others, and yet so very hard to give from ourselves. As Our Lord was nailed to the instrument of his passion, he spoke asking the Father’s forgiveness, whilst he freely forgave them himself, for as St. John repeatedly notes: “I am in the Father and the Father is in me”. Forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel: Forgiveness is part of God’s grace and is freely given, if we but have the courage to ask for it. We pray that we may also forgive: “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”. It is not only those who bear hammer and nails against us whom we need to forgive; but those whose offenses are in comparison, quite small. “How many times should I forgive my brother, Lord? Seven times?” “Not seven, but seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22). “They know not what they do” … and neither do we. 2. "I assure you: this day you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:34) (2:14) The penitent thief is the only person recorded in the Scriptures who speaks directly to Christ, addressing him by his own name. Not Rabbi, not Master, not Lord, but simply and directly: Jesus. When we glance away from our own crucifixion, we may just be able to glimpse Christ crucified alongside us; suffering as we suffer, suffering greater as he suffers not only our pain and anguish, but the pain, anguish and bitterness of the whole world. And we hope to hear those words, available to all who have the courage to ask of Christ: “You will be with me in paradise” We pray for the faith to spot Christ alongside us, especially when we are so wrapped up in our own crucifixion to notice His; and we pray that we may have the opportunity, no matter how fleeting or transitory, to experience the intimacy of Christ: to feel his love and concern, to allow his Grace to guide us to our heavenly home. 3. "Woman, behold your son." (John 19: 26) Beneath the cross of Jesus Christian fellowship was born not just for Mary and John, but also for you and me, and everyone who believes. Beneath the cross all true believers become family. Beneath the cross all become brothers and sisters in the Lord. Beneath the cross we all become part of the family of God - the family of the redeemed. Beneath the cross loving relationships were and are formed. Equally, at the cross a responsibility is given to the disciple - to care. 4. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27: 46) (2:28) There is a dark night that the soul must endure, before it reaches it’s goal – to be with God. On that journey as described by St. John of the Cross, there will be times when one might be forgiven for feeling forsaken by God. Psalm 22, which Our Lord recalls, speaks of desolation and isolation, but if we focus only on the first half of the Psalm, we lose to context of Christ’s quotation: Christ spoke in an age when the Scriptures were identified by their opening lines: we begin with “Our Father…” and we know the rest of the prayer, Our Lord said “Eloi, Eloi…” and the faithful would recall the whole Psalm. The second and longer part of the Psalm speaks of faith and redemption, of Grace and fulfilment. For each dark night, there is a brilliant day which follows it.In our darkest nights, we pray that we too may be able to recall that promise, that redemption, that Grace. We pray that others whom we see ensnared by despair may be able to complete their Psalm, and see the joy which comes in the morning.5. "I thirst." (John 19: 28) (2:35) Christ’s thirst was not only physical, but was a thirst for our redemption; a desire so compelling that he would accept the cup ordained for him by his Father. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6) What do we thirst for? Our own needs? Our petty desires? Or do we thirst for Christ, as the deer pants for the water (Psalm 42:1). We pray for those who are persecuted for their faith or their convictions. We pray that we may receive the Grace to hunger and thirst for righteousness. 6. "It is completed." (John 19: 30) (2:42) The last words of Christ were not words of resignation or defeat, but a shout of triumph to cut through the pain and desolation. Christ did not whimper “I am finished”, but proclaimed to the dark sky and the shaking earth the news that death had been conquered, Adam’s had been repaid and humankind would be released: “it is completed!” 7. "Father, into Your hands I commend My Spirit." (Luke 23: 46) (2:49) With these words, the divine word returns back to the one who sent him. His redeeming work complete, the atonement fulfilled. By pouring himself out for us (Philippians 2:5-11), he shows us the supreme self-sacrificing love for us of the Creator. With these final words he died, and the servant suffered for the last time. At the end of our lives, it will only be by God’s Grace that we can commend our souls to him. It is a Grace freely given, fully won, completely atoned.
In Christ ,
Brownhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP4JSVMBdZg