Good Friday Thoughts
4-10-20
Good Friday
Thoughts by Rev. Shirley Porter
Jesus has been nailed to the cross.
People are milling around. Crucifixions are set aside for those who commit acts, say, proclamations against Imperial rule. The crosses sit where many can see them as they come and go into the city. The disciples are hiding in a room somewhere. Mary is nearby trying to understand—Why?
In The Last Week by Borg and Crossan, they divide their commentary of Good Friday in three-hour time slots.
6-9 am = Jesus is handed over to Pilate. (Mark 15:1-21)
9-noon = Jesus is crucified. (Mark 15: 22-32)
Noon-3 pm = Darkness came over the land. (Mark 15:33)
3-6 pm = Jesus cries out, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (Mark 15: 34-41)
6 pm = Joseph of Arimathea offered his tomb for Jesus. A stone is rolled across the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and his mother Mary saw where the body was laid. (Mark 15:42-47)
Excerpts from the book:
“Prisoners condemned to death by crucifixion were normally required to carry the horizontal bar of the cross to the place of execution, where the vertical bar was a post permanently positioned in the ground. But Mark tells us that the soldiers compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, to carry Jesus’ cross. Though Mark does not say why, presumably it was not an act of kindness toward Jesus, but because had become too weak to carry the wooden beam himself.” (p.145)
“Crucifixion was a form of Roman imperial terrorism. First and above all else, although the Romans did not invent it, they reserved it for very special victims. Next, it was not just capital punishment, but a very definite type of capital punishment for those…. who subverted Roman law and order and thereby disturbed the Pax Romana (the “Roman Peace”).
Furthermore, as imperial terrorism, it was always as public as possible…. Finally, …what made this supreme was not just the amount of suffering or even humiliation involved, but there might be nothing left or allowed for burial. Victims were often crucified low enough to the ground that not only carrion birds but scavenging dogs could reach them. …after death…little was left of their bodies even for possible burial.” (p.146)
Now it makes more sense why this wealthy follower of Jesus, Joseph of Arimathea, asked Pilot for Jesus’ body.
He had to have permission to take the body down. He also probably did not want Mother Mary to see any more cruelty to her son’s body. Having a body – intact if possible - is very important to Jewish burial rites.
So…if you were a person who saw this event as you came into the city to trade at market, how would you describe the event to a friend who may not have seen it yet? What would you feel in your heart? What would you say to your children?
Today, people are ill and dying from Covid-19. How will you answer the questions above to yourself and others especially children? How does all of this relate to Good Friday? Why does it matter?
I would like to suggest that you write in a journal or draw/sketch your thoughts of this weekend.
Be fully honest with yourself. Represent your feelings, traditional as well as new views. Do so right through the Alleluia’s. Share your thoughts with someone you trust. I would be interested in hearing how the beloved saints of St. Christopher’s are getting to the other side of such a time as this.
During my prayer time this Holy Week I have been listening to some seasonal CD’s. I began the week listening to He Cometh at Midnight-Great and Holy Monday, The Bridegroom Service, presented by the Romeiko Ensemble. While writing this I have been listening to: Lent at Ephesus, sung by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles. At the end of day, I put on Evensong, sung by the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford.
Thank you for letting me share my thoughts. Be safe, be at peace, be in prayer.