This is “Good” Friday - Isaiah 53:1-5

When you look at this cross what do you see? 

This is Good Friday, at least that is what we call it.  I am sure a first-time visitor would question our use of the word “good”.  There is a subdued almost gloomy feeling to this Friday.  The lights are turned down low.  There are no banners on the walls, no flowers adorning the chancel, in fact the altar and pulpit have been stripped of all paraments. The only adornment is the pastor and even he is vested in black.  The music that is played strikes a somber if not downright sad tone.  And honestly no one here appears to be enjoying themselves, at least no one is smiling, no one is laughing. 

I can imagine a first-time visitor entering this room and questioning our use of the word “good”.  Especially with this placed front and center.  “What is it”, the first-time visitor might ask.  “It’s a cross”, we would reply.  “What does it represent?”, they might ask.  “It is a replica of the instrument used to kill Jesus.”, we would reply.  “Was this Jesus a really bad person, someone who deserved to die?”, they might ask.  “No.”, we would reply. “He was the sinless Son of God, perfect in every way.”  “Oh, I see, was He one of those people who was better than everyone else and goes out of their way to make sure everyone knows it?”, they might ask.  “No.”, we would reply.  “He was a humble servant who was kind and compassionate to everyone regardless of their status or station.  He healed the sick, cast out demons, and even raised the dead.” “So, this cross upon which this Jesus died, was it an honorable way to die?”, they might ask.  “Oh no!”, we would reply.  “In fact, a cross like this was reserved for the worst of the worst; it was an incredibly shameful way to die.”  “Well, was it at least a quick and painless death?”, they might ask.  “No.  It was neither of those things.  There is some debate as to exactly how a person was affixed to a cross such as this.  We know nails were involved.  Two nails hammered through the palms of His hands or through his wrist and a third nail hammered through the top of his feet.  A person would be left on the cross for hours even days before they finally suffocated to death. You see, the cross was designed to cause as much pain as possible for as long as possible.”, we would reply.  “So, this innocent man, who was kind and compassionate to everyone he met, was killed in the most shameful and painful way possible, and you have all gathered here tonight to celebrate this!?!  They might exclaim.  “Correct.” We would reply.  “You consider this to be “good!?!”, they might ask.  “Yes.”, we would reply.  “We call this Friday “good”, and I’ll tell you why.  We call this Friday “good” because we look upon the cross through the eyes of the prophet Isaiah.”

When we look upon this cross, we don’t see what a pretentious person might see.  The pretentious look upon this cross and see a man who was unable and incapable of doing anything for himself let alone anybody else.  They see a man who resembled a “tender shoot” or dried out “root”.  In the eyes of the pretentious this man hanging on a cross “2 had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”  In the eyes of the pretentious Jesus has no influence or authority; nothing of any earthly value to offer us.  He doesn’t offer us fine houses, fast cars, and fancy clothes.  He doesn’t offer to make us popular among our peers, appreciated by our neighbors, or respected in our communities.  He doesn’t even offer to spare us from pain and sorrow and sadness.  In the eyes of the pretentious, there is nothing attractive or desirable about the man who was hung on the cross.  When the pretentious see Jesus hanging on the cross, they don’t see anything good.

When we look upon this cross, we don’t see what a proud person might see.  The proud look upon this cross and see a man who should be “3… despised and rejected”.  In the eyes of the proud this man hanging on a cross was nothing but a “3… man of sorrows” who was “3… familiar with suffering”.  The proud are content to follow Jesus when it is comfortable and convenient.  As long as the path before them isn’t too difficult and doesn’t interfere too much with their lives or prevent them from doing the things they wanted to do or expect them to make any meaningful sacrifices of time talent or treasure, the proud are happy to follow Jesus.  But when the proud see Jesus hanging on a cross “disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness”[1] they see nothing but sorrow and suffering. Sorrow and suffering are not what they signed up for.  If sorrow and suffering are part of what it means to follow Jesus than the proud want nothing to do with it or Him.  Which is why the proud look away from Him, “3… hide their faces” from Him, “despise” Him and “esteem Him not”.  When the proud see Jesus hanging on the cross, they don’t see anything good.

When the pretentious and proud look upon the cross they don’t see anything good, but the penitent does.  The penitent recognizes their own pretentiousness. They are ashamed of how often they have allowed themselves to believe they deserve more things, are entitled to better treatment, and should have fewer problems than everyone else.  The penitent recognizes their own pride.  They are ashamed of how easily and how often they have stumbled when the path of a believer became slightly uncomfortable and moderately inconvenient for them.   

The penitent sees their sins of pretention and pride and all the other sins they have committed against God and man and the penitent knows that it should be them.  We should be the ones who were stricken smitten and afflicted.  We should be the ones who were pierced and punished.  We should be the ones suffering as much pain as possible for as long as possible, but we were not the ones, Jesus was.  Jesus “4 took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.”  Jesus “5 was pierced for our transgressions, he [Jesus] was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him [Jesus]  and by his wounds we are healed.”  It should have been us hanging on that cross, but it wasn’t us, it was Jesus.  Jesus allowed Himself to be stricken smitten and afflicted so that you would be protected from such sorrows.  Jesus allowed Himself to be pierced and punished so that your sins would be pardoned.  Jesus suffered unimaginable pain so that you could possess an eternal peace.   When the penitent look at the cross we see protection, pardon, and peace.  When the penitent sees Jesus hanging on a cross, we see something good.

I can imagine what a first-time visitor might be thinking if they walked into our sanctuary to celebrate Good Friday with us this evening and saw this old rugged cross front and center at the steps of our chancel.  I would understand if they questioned our use of the word “good”.  But when you look at the cross and see what the prophet Isaiah saw; when you look at the cross and see not what the pretentious or proud see, but when you look at the cross see what the penitent sees then you will understand why we call this Friday “Good”.  Amen

[1] Isaiah 52:14