Good Friday and its significance

“What role does suffering play in our own lives. These are days when some Christian sects preach a gospel of prosperity. It is true that he said "Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto you." His providence is there for those who truly follow the values of the Kingdom which he already inaugurated, - a Kingdom which is to begin in this world in our hearts and minds by following the new ethical values contained in the Beatitudes instead of the Old Testament principle of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth even if we clothe such ideas in words like the just war.”
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by R.M.B. Senanayake

(March 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) On Good Friday Christians remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. He had preached for a mere three years when he was arrested in Jerusalem by a crowd of Jews led by Judas one of his disciples. His other disciples wanted to defend him with swords but he forbade them to do so and even healed one of the mob, whose ear had been cut-off by Peter. After his arrest his disciples fled leaving him to face his trial.
He was first brought before the Jewish High Priest and Council where the hostile crowd made various accusations against him. He remained silent. He was specifically asked whether he was the Messiah and he replied in the affirmative at which they tore their garments as a sign of blasphemy. They then referred him to the Roman Governor of Judea- Pontius Pilate for an official trial by the state. He was charged with treason for the crowd told Pilate that he had asked the people not to pay taxes to the Emperor and claimed that he himself is the Messiah, a king."(Luke 23:2). Jesus hardly made much of a defense of himself except to say that he was not a king of this world although he did give the impression that he was a king of another world and that his Father could send an army of angels to defend him.

It was left to Pontius Pilate to deliver the verdict. He thought he was innocent. He even offered to release Jesus as an act of clemency to convicts by the state which was due at the time. But the crowd preferred Barabbas, a murderer to Jesus.

What is truth

He also wanted to ascertain the defense that Jesus could put forward on his behalf. But Jesus would only say that those who belong to the truth will listen to him and not others. So Pilate asked the famous question what is truth? Even today Pilate is often quoted when people worry about the morality of what they are about to do. Like Pilate they are not interested in the answer, because it raises issues they don’t want to get into. Pilate’s job probably depended on maintaining public peace in Judea and this meant giving the crowd what it wanted. He couldn’t please both the people and the Emperor and also do the right thing. The struggle between what is right and what is expedient politically is so prominent in our own society today. A few years after Jesus’ death Pilate was in fact recalled to Rome for putting down an armed revolt by the Jews with excessive violence

Jews condemn him for blasphemy,

Blasphemy as in Islam even today, is an offence carrying the death penalty. It was so according to the Jewish law. But Judea was under Roman rule and the applicable law of the state was the Roman law.

The crowd was adamant that he should not be released but crucified instead. He had claimed to be the Son of God, an outrageous claim in the eyes of the High Priest and the elders. It was blasphemy in their eyes for the Jews were monotheistic and here Jesus was claiming to be the Son of God. So the crowd boisterously demanded he be crucified and Pilate realizing that if he released him there could be a riot by the crowd washed his hands placing the blame for his crucifixion, fairly and squarely on the Jews.

There have been other Jews who also claimed to be the messiah. One Sabbatai Sevi did so in the 17th century. There was even a Sabbatian movement ( The Lost Messiah by John Freely Viking Press ).In 1666 15 years after he proclaimed himself the Messiah, he was brought to trial by the Sultan of Turkey to face charges of sedition. Sevi then recanted and converted to Islam rather than face martyrdom. He accepted a sinecure as the Sultan’s head Gate-keeper.

Why did he suffer this painful death?

So Jesus would have known that his claim to be the Messiah was dangerous and would cost him his life. He co-operated fully in his journey to Calvary and crucifixion.

Was he laboring under a delusion? Or was his claim true that he was the only Son of God, begotten by the Holy Spirit. Suppose he was the Son of God as he claimed. Then we ask why did he have to suffer this painful death. He could have used his special powers to be taken up to heaven. In fact he appealed to his Father to be saved from this horrible death but he wanted such release only if that was his Father’s will and not otherwise. It wasn’t his Father’s will. He had to suffer like every body else born into this world. God the Father loved his son but yet wanted him to undergo such painful death. Why? It was a message for mankind that suffering is part and parcel of life. Jesus was to be a model on how to accept suffering, often caused by the wickedness of other human beings. Theology says Jesus suffered to atone for the sins of all mankind. Jesus himself asked his Father to forgive those who put him to death saying that they did not know what they were doing. They did not understand the heinousness of putting to death God himself. But He is a forgiving God. He wants us only repent and accept our sinfulness to be saved. The penalty for sin does not exist any more if the sinner repents. The sinner could do so easily if he accepts Jesus Christ and believes in Jesus Christ as the Redeemer. The grace of God then flows to him and the task of repentance is made easier.

Forgiveness , Suffering and God’s Providence

It is easy for us to say that we are sorry when we offend others by our actions. But in common parlance we also say we will make it up to those we have wronged. We need to recompense them if we have caused losses to them or harmed their reputations or wronged them in any way. All human beings cherish the idea at some time or other to start fresh all over again and not remain shut up in their guilt and mistakes for ever. God by his great sacrifice has given us the opportunity to do so. He has said by his death on the cross he has atoned for all our sins. Now it is up to us to turn over a new leaf and start a fresh. But we must first repent and feel ashamed of our sins. Although we are released from the penalty if we are to truly start afresh and live the new life according to God’s commandments such an attitude is necessary.

What role does suffering play in our own lives. These are days when some Christian sects preach a gospel of prosperity. It is true that he said "Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else will be added unto you." His providence is there for those who truly follow the values of the Kingdom which he already inaugurated, - a Kingdom which is to begin in this world in our hearts and minds by following the new ethical values contained in the Beatitudes instead of the Old Testament principle of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth even if we clothe such ideas in words like the just war. But to enjoy his Providence we must first seek his Kingdom and its values.

But Jesus also said that those who want to be his active followers must take up the cross and follow him. So there is no question of the Christian being exempted from suffering. In fact by bearing suffering patiently and accepting it as our due given our sinful character, we reap great benefits of God’s grace without which we Christians believe that we cannot really practice virtue. We cannot save ourselves by our own actions and need God’s grace to do so. God’s grace is obtained by prayer, sacrifice and the sacraments. So great saints like Padre Pio asked God to give them suffering and he was given the stigmata- wounds which bled for fifty years and each day it did so he lost a cupful of blood. Of course there are others who have not asked for suffering also given special suffering like those born deaf, dumb, blind and crippled or who suffer from terminal illnesses like cancer. But they are not being singled out for such suffering because of their sins - since Jesus has clearly explained it is not necessarily due to their sin or that of their parents. Suffering is a part of life and to the Christian it is a useful way to make it up to God by bearing it patiently. Suffering also helps us to become spiritually better persons. This I think is the real message of Good Friday. We must endure patiently such sufferings which cannot be avoided be they sickness or some trial or tribulation caused by the wickedness of those we have to deal with – be they our spouses, children, bosses or neighbors. Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you is what Jesus commanded.

Richard Dwight wrote that ‘A Committed Christians life must end on Calvary" But nominal Christians cry out in anguish and ask why they should suffer. God’s answer would be to point to his son Jesus who despite being innocent had to suffer so much pain, humiliation and ignominy. Can we blame God for suffering, when he too was put to death by human beings. So the world goes on with terrorists resorting to suicide bombs and killing people indiscrimately. Yet God has said that evil will never triumph over the good in the long run. It is this lack of faith in the triumph of the good over evil that drives people to terrorism in what they feel is a just cause.

- Sri Lanka Guardian