Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday)“it is accomplished.”We have listened to the story of Jesus giving his life for us. John the Evangelist tells us that the reason for this was love; love of the Father and love of his disciples. Love cannot be compelled or forced: it is freely given. In John’s version of the passion, it is Jesus who is in charge of what happens, so that it is in fact Pilate who finds himself on trial not Jesus.In John’s gospel Jesus has no need of help; there is no Simon of Cyrene to assist him with the carrying of the cross. He takes up his own cross and marches to Calvary, which is the scene of his last mission and him revealing God to the world. His last words which we have pondered and meditated upon this past week in our Holy week devotions are not a cry of reproach, accusing God of abandoning him, but indeed they are a shout of triumph: “it is accomplished, - “It is finished.”Earlier he had explained to his disciples that the good shepherd is the one who lays down his life for the sheep: he acted this out when he washed the feet of the disciples, including Judas. John tells us that Jesus did all this out of love: “Now he showed how perfect his love was.” We can understand this when we consider Jesus on the cross.In the final scene of today’s passion reading, we meet once more the character called Nicodemus, he is no longer a shadowy figure who comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness. Now he appears boldly in broad daylight to assist in the solemn burial of Jesus, which involves a royal and extravagant amount of spices and oils. He has thus moved from unbelief and curiosity to faith in Jesus.Jesus summed up the message of the 4th gospel, which reached its climax in the paschal event which we are celebrating today. Jesus told Nicodemus; “ God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.”Thoughts to Ponder:Is it too good to be true? Could someone love us enough to give their life so that we might live? Would someone be prepared to die in our place?We can understand mothers or fathers being ready to sacrifice themselves for their child, but would anyone else feel the same way about another person?As you know I have received the gift of a liver from a lady called Sarah nearly 21 years this next week; her death and her departing wishes meant that I could live, so I have a little understanding in this matter.I often find myself thinking about Sarah and her act of love towards me, and others who receive vitals organs to help them too. Sarah’s family will always bear the loss, but they also bear a hope that her life wasn’t in vain. This is true for so many of us who have received life from another.How much more then are we who have received the life of Christ to be thankful for his death this day. Jesus mission was to reveal God’s love for humanity and invite us into a relationship with God, into a friendship with God. Throughout John’s gospel story we are given examples of people coming to believe in Jesus, growing in the appreciation of who he is and what he means to them.Today we are invited to consider that the cross is more about love than it is about justice. No one can love more than to lay down their life for their friend.How will you respond to Jesus love for you today?
7. The Last WordLuke chapter 23 verse 46 “Jesus Cried out in a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”We now come to the last of the 7 words of Christ let us remind ourselves of what they were: We have joined with Jesus on this rollercoaster of emotions until we come to this point when Jesus on the cross, finally cries to his Father God in total submission, placing his spirit into the hands of his Father God. There have been many films, stage shows and TV series depicting Christs final moments and each being able to convey the director’s vision and meaning either to entertain or challenge us. Whether that is Mel Gibson’s 2004 The Passion of Christ with its harrowing and brutal scenes that left me totally speechless at the end. It took away all the sanitized versions that I had experienced previously and left me with the reality that Christ truly suffered for my sake, truly suffered. Or whether it is the more artistic Martin Scorsese 1988 The Last Temptation of Christ showing Christ vulnerable and naked and with the viewer looking on at a distance.Our Gospel accounts tell us that it was necessary for the Son of God to do this for us, so that we no longer have to punish ourselves for the sins that we do. Our faith in Christ and our love for God means that all the pain and suffering was taken on Christ.Over the years I have held the hands of many who were dying and those who have died and, in the process, they have been weakened by their condition and unable to cry out, so what strength it must have taken to cry out just as Jesus’ spirit is passed over to his Father God. Perhaps this scene was so powerful and effective not simply because an innocent man was prepared to die for his beliefs, but because throughout his life, Jesus gave his spirit into Gods hands so that God was able to use Jesus in the best possible way. Jesus’ final cry on the cross “it is finished….”, expresses the means by which Jesus achieved his perfect sacrifice. Death in any shape or form is an emotional one especially for those who mourn for a friend or loved one and the images of Mary and others at the foot of the cross or nearby only serves to remind us of that fact.For many of us, work has become that which defines our life. This may be voluntary work or paid work, but it means that for many people busyness is the most essential part of life. When that busyness is snatched away as it has been due to the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent restrictions on our day to day life – redundancy or illness people can feel useless and without worth. But all those who freely give their spirit into Gods hands can be used by God in startling and unexpected ways. For Jesus, the most powerful moment of his life was when he was completely helpless and utterly vulnerable on the cross, but we know that death had no hold on Christ and neither will it have a hold on us. “Into your hands Lord, I commend my spirit.”“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.-Isiah 53:5. 700 BC.
Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet: Maundy Thursday SermonOn Maundy Thursday we remember the story from John’s account of the Last Supper. It was the night before Jesus knew that He was going to die. He was about to be betrayed by Judas, one of His own disciples. Soon, Jesus would be beaten, made fun of, and nailed to a cross. Even though Jesus knew all these things, His disciples did not understand that He was going to die and then rise again, that this would be their last Passover Meal together with Him.Jesus got up from the meal and wrapped a towel around His waist. He poured water into a large bowl and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him. In those days, foot washing was needed in every home because the streets were dusty and dirty with rubbish and the waste from the animals that travelled there. Sandaled feet could soon become very dirty and smelly.The dinner-time custom was to lean back around the table at the evening meal. Usually, the lowest servant in the household was expected to wash the feet of guests. Having your guests’ feet washed was a way to show honour to them. Since the last supper was held in a private home, with just Jesus and His disciples, we can easily see why there were no servants there. Jesus took on the role of a lowly servant, showing loving hospitality by his actions. He brought refreshment to each of his disciples by washing the dirt from their feet. Jesus shows us by example that we are to love and serve one another. This is how we show that we are disciples of Jesus. It is not what we say, or write, or preach, the services we attend, the prayers we pray, or the knowledge we have, that speak of our devotion to Christ. It is the way we show Christ’s love to one another. We can love because He first loved us. Love can flow from us when we come to know God’s love in our hearts. This kind of love is much more than a warm fuzzy feeling or even a natural concern for one another. How can we possibly love one another with the same love that Christ loves each one of us? Surely, this is beyond our human capability and yet Jesus commands us to love one another. Peter had to learn to submit to Jesus, to allow Jesus to minister to him by washing his feet. We mustn’t be too proud to admit our need for God, to humbly allow his love to wash into our heart by the Holy Spirit. This love is beyond natural, it is supernatural, unconditional and we have done nothing to earn it. It enables us to love those who naturally we wouldn’t even like!Jesus did not wash his disciples’ feet just to get them to be nice to each other. His far greater goal was to extend his mission on earth after he was gone. These men were to move into the world serving God, serving each other and serving all people to whom they took the message of salvation.What do people see when they look at us? How often do they witness petty bickering, division, critical or harsh attitudes, or a lack of willingness to serve one another? Or do they know that we are Jesus’ followers by our love for one another? Does our loving attitude reveal itself in action: helping others when it is not convenient, giving when it hurts, devoting energy to others’ welfare rather than our own, absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back, being ready to roll our sleeves up and serve in a menial way? Do we honour one another and bring refreshment to each other by the way we live our lives?I will close with a verse from a letter also written by John:‘Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.’ 1 John 4:7
‘Let me be as Christ to You’During a recent ‘lockdown sort-out’ I came across an old service sheet for Sunday Eucharist. One of the hymns for that week was ‘Brother, Sister, Let me Serve you’. It has a simple repetitive tune but the words are powerful and emotive. It’s one of my favourite worship songs. When New Zealander Richard Gillard wrote it he was thinking of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, and it is often referred to as the ‘service hymn’.In Jesus’ time (and in some respects still today), washing the dirty, dusty feet of guests was a menial and somewhat degrading task. It was the job for a servant, not a master. When, at the Last Supper, Jesus carried out this act of service towards his disciples Peter, in particular felt very uncomfortable with this. ‘Imagine being Peter and watching Jesus wash the others’ feet, all the while moving closer to you. Seeing his master behave like a slave must have confused Peter. He still did not understand Jesus’ teaching that to be a leader, a person must be a servant.’ It’s not a comfortable read for leaders who find it hard to serve those ‘beneath’ them.Just like Peter we can feel uncomfortable with the idea of being served. A dear friend told me recently that I needed to receive as well as give; and to receive graciously.In the midst of the pandemic crisis many of us are finding ourselves in a situation, through self-isolation, where we are dependent on being served by others. Our independence has been taken away. We may not be able to leave our homes for essential food and medicines, and rely on the goodwill, love and service of others. A few days ago, that same dear friend expressed her frustration at feeling so helpless and impotent. Generosity and service is such a vital part of her being. I reminded her of her own words to me not so long ago.The crisis has highlighted the many selfless acts of human kindness, whether it is the #viralkindness campaign, the pubs who are providing hundreds of free meals to those in need, the children sending letters and drawings to residents of a care home, the thousands of volunteers who have come forward to help in whatever way they can. All are truly heartening and uplifting. It is a privilege to serve one another, however small the act.We have often heard politicians tell us in the past that ‘we are all in this together’ and it may have seemed to many to be hollow rhetoric. Now, however, it really is the case. We are all dependent on one another. Those who can serve are doing so willingly, and those who find themselves in Peter’s position need to receive.Brother, sister, let me serve you;let me be as Christ to you;pray that I may have the grace tolet you be my servant too. Stay safe and God BlessCatherine Morrison
