Have you ever been convicted for a crime you didn’t commit? Found guilty, yet innocent? Raped or violated, yet no justice was served? You might have been treated like the criminal when you were actually the victim. Has life ever beaten you to the point of falling to your feet? We may not ever understand why such things happen. We may never recognize or discover the reasons for such distress, distrust, doubt, despair and indecency. Yet we still continue with our lives and in our journeys, albeit with the trauma of our past. What gave you the strength to get up and continue the fight?
Even Jesus, the son of man, the prince of peace, the Savior of the world, has felt like we have. When we reflect upon Good Friday, we relive the moments when Jesus, in great agony, staggers through the streets of Golgatha. We see him carrying a heavy cross of wood. We see him being beaten and struck with whips, with blood streaming from his head. He stumbles and falls many times along his path. He is dirty, bruised, and belittled yet, knowing he is venturing towards his death. And we all know that Jesus was an innocent man, He was tried and found guilty of a crime that didn’t exist.
Yet, Jesus kept on walking. He kept getting back up, over and over again, and would not stop until he completed his assignment. Why? Because of his unconditional love for you and I. Jesus encourages us through THE POWER OF LOVE. He loved us so much that he suffered for all of our sins. He suffered for our names sake and he didn’t think twice about it on that day. Jesus endures disparity, discomfort, unease, pain, and sorrow, to extend grace and to demonstrate true and ever-lasting Love.
I know that many of us know what love is or may have experienced what we thought was real love. But still, how many times have we failed or given up on our assignments because it got too hard or we feared impending defeat? Even if you give up on yourself or others, know that Jesus never gave up on you. When iron stakes were nailed through his bones and a throne of crown was placed on his head, he decided to look up, talk to God, and stand up for us so that we might have life without sin. He forsook himself so that we would not be forsaken.
Minds might wonder: How could this happen? How could the Savior not save himself when he had the full capacity to do so? I turn my answer back to you. Why do we choose silence when other people shame us?Why do we not curse or retaliate when we have been mistreated?Why do we choose to Love over and over again, with broken and bleeding hearts? Why do we forgive our relatives who have used and broken our promises over and over again? For the same reason Jesus had; for THE POWER OF LOVE. Had Jesus not bore the weight of humanity, we wouldn’t know how to carry suffering with us. Had Jesus not fallen and got up, we wouldn’t know the purpose of overcoming and surviving obstacles.Had Jesus not shed blood and tears, we wouldn’t know how to keep moving on in pain, grief, and trauma.
There are benefits in suffering, deceit, sickness, and broken news, for we are strengthened through overcoming the bad. Scripture says that there is beauty in the ashes, poets use the imagery of the Phoenix rising, and songwriters declare beauty in their brokenness. So when life hands us sprouted potatoes, bitter lemons, fickle friends, frugal finances, and busted circumstance, we too have the choice to look at only the pain or look at the benefits of the suffering.
This is the powerful message of the Cross. While I have talked about the numerous, negative moments of such a day, at the end of the day, it is still called GOOD FRIDAY. What’s so GOOD about Good Friday? The answer is Love that Jesus had for us. Even in suffering on the Cross, he looked towards heaven. Even in pain, he did not open his mouth Even when he was falsely accused, he did not feel the need to vindicate himself. He chose THE POWER of LOVE.
Jesus took humanity’s sins and suffering, and declared, “Father Forgive them for they know not what they do.” He forgave us so that we could forgive each other and ourselves. The next time someone treats you badly, or life attempts to steal your day, whisper, “Forgive them.” For after suffering and the finality of death, Jesus still rose from the dead and left his tomb. This goes to show that even in great suffering, eventually, the sun will shine, the clouds will move, and the pain will cease. So, my friends, embrace the Power of Love on this solemn Good Friday, for love conquers all.