From bob.blog:
I once attended a Good Friday service where the pastor encouraged us to look at Good Friday positively, to see the crucifixion through "Easter eyes." I could only shake my head at this massive misunderstanding and missed opportunity.
His intentions were good… He didn’t want anyone to feel bad. He wanted to protect us from feeling defeated as we meditated on the death of Christ. It’s completely understandable. But in doing so, he robbed us of exactly the feeling and experience that Good Friday is meant to give us...
Every year the pastor stands and does his best to project the words “Christ is risen!” And we half-heartedly answer, “He is risen indeed...?” Usually we have to try it a couple of times to work up any enthusiasm at all.
And the reason we don’t feel the joy at Easter that we know deep down inside we should, is because we don’t feel the grief at Good Friday that we could. We enter our well-lit sanctuaries on Good Friday, sing some songs, hear a nice message about the crucifixion, and go out for dessert afterwards with our friends. We enter with smiles on our faces and leave the same way. If only we knew how to grieve…
Good Friday ruined the first disciples’ weekend. Maybe we should allow it to ruin ours as well.
Nice thoughts. I think I understand what the writer is getting at but I do not think that the lack of joy on Easter Sunday is due to a lack of sorrow on Friday.
Jesus, commenting on the cross said "now is the Son of Man glorified" and "now will the ruler of this world be cast out". The oft repeated verse "this is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps. 118:24)is part of a prophecy of the death of Christ (see verses 22 and 23).
We should mourn that our sins require such a thing to be done as the death of the Son of God. But we should also be filled with joy unspeakable at the truth that Jesus surrendered up His life to win us to God. On the cross Jesus disarmed the principalities and powers and subjected them to open shame by triumphing over them in the cross. (Colossians 2:15)This morning I preach on "It is Finished" (John 19:30). What a glorious Truth! Jesus has done it all and we are saved. GOOD Friday indeed. Have a happy one!
Ken:
I agree with all you say, but I'm still not sure I'll have a "happy" one!
I sense a tension today. If we only had Good Friday and not Easter Sunday, our faith would be in vain. Maybe we're called to live in that tension today, in both mourning as you say and in joy on this day. My concern is that we run to the joy too quickly.
On a larger note, I wonder if our public worship needs to make room for more of the psalms of lament in our worship. But that is a whole other post for a different day.
When I pastored in NJ, the local churches would gather on Good Friday evening for a service. It was actually kind of gloomy, an attempt to replicate the mood of the disciples during and following the death of Jesus. There were 10 candles at the front of the church, and one by one they were extinguished as Scriptures were read and sad songs sung. We all left in silence (and near darkness). Easter Sunday we all met again at a park in town for a sunrise celebration and breakfast. I think it was helpful to guide our people through an experience of grieving and then joy.
Here in the DR, Easter (or Samana Santa, as it's called - Holy Week), is more of an excuse to party for three days. Not that Dominicans need much of an excuse to break out the Presidente.
I read the article and appreciate what the writer had to say about grieving. I especially need to learn how to mourn for my own sins, and for the sins of my church. I agree totally that we need to have times when we give room for weeping and grieving for our sins.
Maybe Good Friday can be a time for that. It certainly can be a great opportunity to teach this much needed lesson. So thank you for the link.
Having said that (isn't there always a "But"). I don't see that Good Friday has to be about mourning. As Ken points out: It is Good Friday. And it is good for a reason. That first weekend may have been "ruined" for the disciples, but I daresay they never looked back on that weekend in the same way. Neither can we just dismiss looking at the cross through "Easter eyes." The empty cross and the empty tomb go together. Jesus isn't still hanging on the cross. I think this idea that Good Friday is for weeping and Easter is for rejoicing is a false dichotomy. The victory was won at the cross. And for that I am forever grateful.
Darryl- I'm really grateful for this quote. It fits well with what I need... to enter into the grief of what was done to the One I love so desperately. When I can find space within my heart to grieve with Mary, to mourn with John, to stand with them and share their story... I can learn what it is to be in community and to live more than a Jesus and me existance.