Good Friday.
It's a funny name for the day on which Jesus got crucified. Good? Pierced hands and feet. Good? A crown of thorns. Good? A spear in his side. Good?
But it is good news. As a Christian I believe that we are indebted to God. We owe a debt for failing to give God the recognition he deserves and for instead putting ourselves in the driving seat of our lives. Our selfishness has caused wars, famines and suffering.
Good Friday is good because it is the day that we remember that Jesus dealt with our selfishness, our pride, our autonomy from him. The debt we owe for all our wrongdoing was eradicated by the death of a Jesus, so that we could be back in a relationship with God. All we need to do is accept it!
As Paul writes, ‘He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross’ (Colossians 2:13b-14).
The Christian life is about knowing that we are forgiven of all our selfishness, freed from our wrongdoing, loved despite our failings, and welcomed into God's family. The debt is cancelled. We get to start afresh.
And so Good Friday is the ultimate expression of generosity. God's love meant that he generously allowed his innocent son Jesus to pay my debt and to pay yours. No matter what we have done or failed to do, we can know God’s generosity today.
Make some space today to reflect on God’s generosity symbolised by the cross. Reflect upon the size of the debt that God has cancelled. Now consider any debts that others may owe to you in whatever form they take – unfulfilled promises, unpaid loans or unreturned favours. Ask for God’s grace to let them go, and release his generosity in symbolically wiping the slate clean.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment