Back in the eighties when our family vacationed regularly on Sanibel Island, we spent many an Easter weekend in this tropical paradise. As I think back, one particular Good Friday stands out as exceptional.
My folks were with us, and Mom was a champion at finding new ways to teach old truth. We had five children at the time, and rather than find a church and clean everyone up to attend a Good Friday service, she proposed a new idea. “Why don’t each of us head outdoors and hunt for something that represents Good Friday. It can be anything you want but has to be something you find. Later we’ll sit together and listen to the explanation of each item.”
And off we went in all directions, hunting for the elements of the crucifixion story on the beach or in the bushes of Sanibel. Our church service, held later at the dining table in our rented condo, was creative and meaningful. Everyone participated, and there were no duplicates of items found.
One person brought grasses braided into a whip, signifying the beating Jesus suffered. Another found a piece of driftwood, which he explained represented the cross Jesus was nailed onto. Dad went deeper with a stalk of sea wheat and an explanation of John 12:24, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
One of the boys brought a snake-like shell casing representing Satan the serpent who wanted to see Jesus get killed. And Mom brought a thorny branch, nearly crying as she described the crown of thorns pressed into Jesus’ head.
Although this worship service occurred more than twenty years ago, I can still picture the scene and remember the joy I felt watching and listening to our children as they remembered the death of their Savior.
Tonight I’m thinking again about that dark day two thousand years ago that unlocked eternal paradise to every human being who believes Jesus died for his or her sin . Mary asked our four girls, ages 19, 19, 21 and 22, a thought-provoking question: “What was in the cup that Jesus begged not to have to drink?”
After some discussion, we all agreed that if we looked into that cup, it would look differently to each of us, filled with the repulsive brew of our own sins. Yet the truth of the crucifixion is that Jesus drained the cup dry. Good Friday wasn’t good at all for him, but it was of the highest possible good for us.
“He fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba, Father,’ he said. ‘Everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will’.” (Mark 14:35b-36)
Hi Margaret,
What a great idea that was for a Good Friday “service.” Note to self.
What was in the cup? Your description of a repulsive brew is quite arresting, as I think about Jesus becoming that sin on our behalf.
We don’t like to think about God being a God of wrath, but I suppose it’s because none of us has an inkling of how utterly repulsive that brew really is. But God is angry at sin and it is an affront to His character. We can tell what God thinks of sin by the extent He went to spare us of it’s consequences in the death of His Son.
My two cents on what was in the cup- God’s wrath- Jeremiah 25:15; Isaiah 51:17; Revelation 14:9,10. Incomprehensible to think that Jesus Christ fully absorbed all of God’s wrath for sin, and drank every last drop of that repulsive brew. He could cry triumphantly from the cross, “it is finished,” as He turned the cup completely upside down, it’s contents exhausted.
If the cup were overturned on my head, there would be nothing to pour out. I am saved from the wrath of God through Him (Romans 5:9) and there is no condemnation for those of us in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
I think it was the prospect of drinking God’s wrath that provoked such anguish on the part of Christ. But He was obedient. After praying three times for it to be removed, He victoriously said, “the cup which the Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” When all of the powers of darkness converged on Jesus, His own authority and power and submission to His Father’s will crushed Satan. And God has highly exalted Him.
God loves His Son, and it will be a terrible thing to insult the Spirit of grace and reject what He did. If I do, it means I’m on my own when I stand before Him, and I for sure am not capable of drinking that cup.
What an amazing day Good Friday is, a great exchange- He hung naked so I could be clothed in His righteousness.
“Lord, it is not long into my day when sin has already tripped me up. The cross is a blaring message that my sin repulses You. If I were to stand before You on my own merit, I would be disqualified in a heart beat. Why You went to the extent You did to save me is beyond my comprehension, but You did. Thank You, Jesus, for setting aside Kingly robes and Your royal crown, to be stripped naked, to endure the mocking of a crown of thorns. Thank You for fully absorbing the wrath of God for me. Thank You for enduring the physical anguish of such a death. Thank You for accepting separation from the Father at that moment You became sin. Every knee will bow before You, every knee, whether in heaven or hell. I do so now. Amen.”
Love,
Terry
This is wonderfully thought-provoking… since earlier in the evening, Jesus had “taken the cup…and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them” How different were those 2 cups for Jesus and the disciples that night. One was for Him-once, alone…one is for us, together, forever. “Drink ye all of it…this do, in remembrance of me.”
Lord, thank you for enduring Good Friday, because you knew glorious Sunday was coming. Give us hearts that both break and sing over who you are, and what you did. And may this Easter dawn with fresh joy that because of You, death is swallowed up in victory, and for us, eternal life has already begun.
What a great idea, Margaret! Leave it to your mom 🙂
I have known for many years that I was bought with a price but this year God’s message to me has an additional dimension. If Jesus paid for my sins on the cross, then they rightfully belong to Him and not to me any longer. They are not just covered up, as with the old covenant sacrifices, they were paid for. The fact that I still hang on to them and let them define who I am is wrong. The book of Hebrews has been a wonderful reminder that not only is my record clear, my conscience has been cleansed also and now I am free to be used by God without dragging all that extra baggage around!
Several days ago you were talking about unconditional love. I used to think of it as, “I love you in spite of…” Now I know it is simply, “I love you.” There is literally no thought of the “in spite of” things. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
Happy Resurrection Day to you and Mary and your wonderful families.
A-men!
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