Slices
Prepare
Being present when someone dies is always humbling. Let us humble ourselves today as we watch the Lord Jesus breathe his last.
Bible passage
The death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, ‘He’s calling Elijah.’
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.’
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Explore
How could God turn away from the Lord Jesus dying unjustly and helplessly on the cross? Surely the Father could not forsake his beloved Son in his hour of need? But he did. That is exactly what happened. That is the depth of horror that is Good Friday. Jesus shouts out the pain of his forsakenness in the words of Psalm 22, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (v 46). A profound mystery indeed. How serious is sin if it required the death of the eternal Son to expunge it? How deep is divine love, in that it went to such lengths for people like us?
We will not be the first readers to be puzzled by some of the details of Matthew’s narrative: darkness in the afternoon (v 45), earthquake (v 54), graves splitting open, bodies raised to life, appearing in the holy city (vs 51–53). These may seem more suited to the Day of the Lord and the supernatural beginnings of a new age. Perhaps that is the point. Good Friday is that supernatural new beginning. God massively intervened.
At the moment Jesus died, the Temple’s heavy barrier curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom (vs 50,51). This barrier into the Holy of Holies was comprehensively destroyed. The message was clear. Jesus’ death had opened the kingdom of heaven so that all may go in.
Respond
‘Alleluia! What a saviour!’*
*‘Man of Sorrows’, P Bliss (1838–1876).
Deeper Bible study
‘Nothing in my hand I bring, / simply to your cross I cling; / naked, come to you for dress; / helpless, look to you for grace’.1 Thank you, Jesus.
Jesus hung on the cross for about six hours, the darkness of the last three culminating in his cry of abandonment by God. This cry was penned by King David centuries earlier2 and foreshadows many of the elements of the last few hours of Jesus’ life. Not understanding, well-wishers in the crowd offer him vinegar and they wait, thinking he is calling on a prophet. After his final shout, ‘It is finished’,3 he dies – and an earthquake brings cataclysmic damage to Temple and tombs, terrifying the guards. Suddenly, they’re convinced that Jesus was the Son of God.
What really did Jesus mean by quoting Psalm 22? It seems such a cry of Godforsakenness. Some suggest that Christ is identifying fully with human hopelessness and suffering, but it is also a cry of cosmic spiritual truth. As Jesus was sacrificing himself and being made sin for us,4 he was experiencing the outcome of sin in separation from the Father. His forsakenness was at a level we shall never know. Christ suffered and died to bring grace to us who don’t deserve it. It’s pictured symbolically, with the Temple veil torn and the Holy of Holies opened up to ordinary human access. A new relationship with God can be ours through Christ.
It is fitting that the passage ends with the story of dedicated women. A male disciple had betrayed Jesus, another denied him and most had fled, yet the women remained to the end. They speak to us of the reality of faithfulness, despite perplexity, doubt or distress. Their confusion must have been greater than most of us have ever known, yet they give us courage. We too can stay close to Jesus in the worst of circumstances of our lives and not waver in our hope.
Are there people around you who need your Christian encouragement today? Why not pray and reach out?
1 AM Toplady, 1740–1778, ‘Rock of Ages’ 2 Ps 22:1 3 John 19:30 4 2 Cor 5:21
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Judges 11,12; Psalms 42,43
Pray for Scripture Union
This good Friday, praise God that Faith Guides like Lesley and Becky are finding the SU Revealing Jesus mission framework so helpful in planning their mission activities. (This week's prayers all relate to this story.)
