Good Friday - Holy Week Invitations
If Holy Week is such an important time for followers of Jesus, why do the days of the week have such curious names? “Maundy Thursday?” What is a Maundy? And “Good Friday?” How can we call this day good when the events that we remember seem so tragic?
On the “Maundy” issue, that strange word comes down to us from the Latin word, “Mandatum,” which means “commandment.” In the Upper Room, after washing his disciples’ feet and before sharing the Lord’s Supper, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you: that you should love one another.” As a kid, I thought it was “Monday Thursday,” which is even stranger!
When it comes to “Good Friday,” it’s accurate to recognize that—humanly speaking—nothing good happened on this particular day. As an ancient Christian saying goes, “Jesus delivered himself into our hands, and we delivered him into the hands of a mob, and the mob delivered him into the jaws of death.” What a brutal way of putting the dark truth of this Friday. Jesus was crushed for our transgressions: tried, mocked, beaten and ultimately crucified.
Where is the “good” in any of this?
We can perhaps only whisper, beneath the shadow of the cross, that what was intended for evil, God intended for good. That is why we call this Friday, “good.”
The Holy Week invitation for any and all who are fascinated by Jesus, is to remember and bear witness to what our Lord has done. And I would humbly add, to ask the very personal question, “So what?!?”
Last night, on Maundy Thursday, I had the privilege with about 150 others from ECRC to take part in a Passover Experience led by Messianic Jewish Christian, Justin Kron. It turns out that God’s rescue plan is even more intricate and well-connected than I previously knew!
And tonight, this Good Friday evening, at 7:00 pm in our Sanctuary, we’ll remember Jesus’ passion. You’re invited to come and worship him, to see Jesus and meditate on his sacrifice and suffering on the cross and to wonder, “So what difference does this make?”
And on Saturday, while Jesus is shrouded in the silence of the tomb, the invitation is even more modest. There will be a time of guided, contemplative prayer in the Garden Room from 7:00-7:45 pm.
And then on Sunday, all the watching and waiting will pay off in the most wonderful way. Everybody is invited to witness the wonder working power of God Almighty in the resurrection of his only begotten Son. We’ll sing —maybe even dance a little—celebrate, and gather around the table of the Risen Lord for Easter Communion. There will be identical services at 8:30 am and 10:00 am in the Sanctuary. For early risers, there will be a simpler, outdoor sunrise service at 6:45 am in the east parking lot. Hopefully, we will depart these joyful Easter gatherings with the ability to complete this phrase, “Because He lives, I can_____ !”
What Jesus accomplished this week really does make all the difference. Whether you’re in the western suburbs, or far away on spring break, find some Christians to worship with. Watch, listen, remember and believe the true story that makes all the difference in the world.
– Pastor Gregg