Holy Saturday by Austin Byerly 4/3/21

Scripture Reading: Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24

"Certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn't ended; certainly God's compassion isn't through! They are renewed every morning. Great is your faithfulness."
-Lamentations 3:22-23 CEB

In a world of instant gratification, waiting and uncertainty are hard. However, today, we wait in uncertainty. Yesterday, we remember that the Roman government crucified Jesus on the cross and laid him in the tomb. Tomorrow, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and victory over death. But today, we wait in the cold, dark tomb of uncertainty.

The disciples watched their teacher and leader die on the cross and watched the government lay Jesus in the tomb. As the government rolled the rock in front of Jesus’ tomb to close it, the disciples’ life with Jesus came to a close as well. I assume the disciples had a lot of uncertainty about what is next in their lives. They might have felt trapped in the dark tomb as well. In their uncertainty they cried out to God and wondered if God actually heard their cries. They might have been angry with God for letting Jesus die. We might experience those same emotions today whether because of Christ’s death or some other period of waiting and uncertainty in happening in our lives. In dark, uncertain days we feel trapped within the depths of the dark tomb with no escape route. We do not know where to turn or what comes next. We cry out to God and wonder if God even hears our cries. We might even lose hope in God (Lam 3:18).

Even as we wait in the cold, dark tomb, may we remember that “certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended; certainly God’s compassion isn’t through!” (Lam 3:22, CEB). God’s love is with us in uncertainty. God is with us on the cross and with us in the tomb. It may not relieve our uncertainty or make things any clearer. In fact, we may still be in the darkness and our lives may not look any better. But in times of uncertainty and waiting, we can be certain that God loves us.

Almighty God,

We want to rush to tomorrow morning – to celebrate the resurrection of your son. However, today we wait. In uncertain times, may we be reminded of your love toward us. Even though it does not provide solutions to our questions or an escape route out of the tomb, may we always be certain of your faithful love. Amen.

--Austin Byerly 

Good Friday by Mike Frese 4/02/21

Scripture Reading: John 18:1-19:42

"So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them."

-John 19:16b-18 NRSV

Why is Jesus on the cross? The most obvious answer is the Romans. Crucifixion was a Roman method of execution and Roman soldiers put him there. Of course, Jesus was arrested by the temple guards and tried by the Sanhedrin (Jewish Council). I guess you could say that Jewish leaders had a hand in it. The gospels describe the crowds calling for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. Perhaps they, too, could be implicated.

However, we need to remember why Jesus was there in the first place. In the story of his birth, Matthew shares the details of the angel’s visit to Joseph. The angel told Jesus’ adoptive father to name him “Jesus”, “for he will save the people from their sins.” Jesus himself said, that the Son of Man came “to give his life as a ransom for many.” Paul reminds us in Romans 5, that because of one man, namely Adam, sin entered into the world, so also by one man, namely Jesus, came the gift of righteousness.

So, we could say that Jesus was on the cross because of the evil that is in the world or due to the sins of the world. Given that we are part of the world, we have contributed to this. Thus, Jesus is on the cross, not only because of the world, but because of us – you and me.

There is a story told about G.K. Chesterton, a journalist, writer and Christian apologist. The editorial board of the London Times asked the question “What’s wrong with the world.” Many people responded to this question. Some sent short letters; others were long and developed theories representing sociological, psychological, or theological insights. G.K. Chesterton also submitted an entry. His response to the question of ‘What’s wrong with the world’: Dear Sirs: I am. Sincerely Yours, G.K. Chesterton.

So why is Jesus on the cross? At least part of the answer is because of you and me. Christ died because of us. However, we cannot forget the detail that he died for us as well. Today, on Good Friday, we not only remember the cost of our sin, but the depth of God’s love. So consider the cross and be amazed. Though we are at fault, we also are forgiven. Cling to the cross and find the gift of forgiveness, the offer of salvation, and the promise of reconciliation.

Prayer: Gracious God, we acknowledge our sins and cling to your grace. Thank you for your forgiving love. Thank you for the depth of your sacrifice. Teach us to love others as you have loved us. Amen.

--Rev. Mike Frese, D.S. Corridor District NCCUMC