Good Friday
Isaiah 52:13–53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-25; John 18:1–19:42
The Reign of God made visible to us gets a challenge for the ages when its humble, stricken, and despised King faces off with the supreme leader of this world who brings on the fullness of his arsenal. Betrayal, lies, self-righteousness, violence, envy, fear, avarice, everything, and the kitchen sink will be thrown at the Galilean prophet-Messiah who arrived in Jerusalem sitting in a colt. Come and see, it is a scandalous spectacle.
Jesus is an annoying speckle that needs to be removed, crushed, and burned as an example to those who may come after him and dare to follow his footsteps. Under the eyes of the world, the rabbi from Nazareth has no chance. He seems abandoned (Psalm 22:11), his bones are out of joint (verse 14) is surrounded by evildoers and wild beasts (verses 12,13 and 16).
Nonetheless, Jesus for us is the Christ, the suffering servant born to heal our wounds and our infirmities, the lamb who takes away our sin (Isaiah 53:4-7). He fully knows what is about to happen and the roles all involved will play (John 18:4). The stage is set. Everything hangs in this balancing act as he is to bear the witness by which the community of saints will shape itself for generations yet to come.
Bridging Faith 