Good Friday--Jesus' Death--What Does It Mean?

Lent Day 39—The Great Three Days: Good Friday April 2

Theme for the Week: The Passion of Christ according to Saint Luke

Passage for the Day: Luke 23:44-48

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, ⁴⁵ while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶ Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. ⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” ⁴⁸ And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Reflection:

On this the second of The Three Great Days, we will watch as Jesus is crucified. We will hear this say: “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit.” What does Jesus mean by commending his spirit to his father? Luke’s is the only Gospel where Jesus says these words.

In the Gospel of Mark (15:37), it is recorded that “Jesus gave a cry and breathed his last.” Matthew also records (27:50) “Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.” John records (19:30) “he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus actively turns his spirit (his life, his breath) over to his Father. Jesus acknowledges that he has done everything he was sent to do and now leaves the spirit of his life in the hands of his Father, who sent him. It is now up to God to do the rest of what has to be done. It will take a couple of days and a resurrection for Jesus’ followers to really understand what God is up to.

The centurion, a Roman official supervising the crucifixion, is able to praise God after witnessing Jesus’ death. A conversion occurs because of the way in which Jesus died. The centurion also acknowledges Jesus’ innocence. The curtain of the temple is torn in two, meaning that the Holy of Holies is open to everyone. No longer is God separated from the people, but they are in God’s midst. The people who watched the death go home, knowing that they have witnessed a very wrong death and realizing that something very powerful has happened.

The women, who have followed Jesus since the beginning and supported his ministry with resources and effort, stood watching the crucifixion and the death. They witness the way in which Jesus died. What is going through their minds? What are they feeling? Their entire world has been pulled out from under them. Their rabbi, their teacher, has died a terrible death and they are left watching and wondering what it means.

Even 2000 years later, we still stand at the cross, watching in despair and wondering what Jesus’ death means. Today we will gather for worship and follow Jesus to the cross, watching as his death finally happens. In this worship service, allow yourself to stand in the shoes of one of the spectators: the women, the centurion, or one of the crowd. Ponder what went through their minds and what they were feeling during their experience of Jesus’ death.

Prayer Themes:

Pray that Jesus death may move me to deeper faith and greater discipleship. Pray that, like the centurion, the experience of the Three Days may help me to praise God.