I attended the Good Friday service at my church tonight. I love that the service is at 7:00. It ends with everyone leaving in silence following the choir and ministers and the sun is setting as we depart. Tonight the sunset was absolutely stunning. I couldn’t get a picture so I just took it in. As I did, I reflected on the service. Our minister used the hymn “Were You There” as the focus of his homily. He discussed a variety of people who we know were there and what they did, or didn’t do. What if you were there? Who would you have been? What would you have done?
Would you have stood beside Jesus and proclaimed him as the King of the Jews? Would you have joined the mob yelling “Crucify” because you got caught up with the crowd? Would you have stood by silently crying out of fear? Would you have stepped up to wipe His brow? Would you have denied him as Judias Iscariet did? Would you have walked away so you didn’t have to watch? Would you have walked away because you didn’t care; it didn’t involve you?
I believe I would have followed him but I would have been quietly crying, not calling attention to myself.
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” He suffered beatings, cruelty, and death on a cross for you, so that you might have eternal life through him.
Thank you, Jim Giddens for giving me this to consider tonight.
Love, Mercy and Grace
Matthew 27:32-56 New International Version (NIV)
The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days,save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
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,[a] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b]
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 templewas 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[c]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,[d] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Love, Mercy, and Grace 