Seeing the Face of Christ in Holy Week--Friday, April 6

Luke 23:39-43

³⁹One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." ⁴²Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." ⁴³He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

So this is the face of God?  Broken – bruised – bleeding.  A human face of anguish with a look of abandonment and defeat.  Sounds like the taunts of those around him.  But what was it that the one condemned robber saw in that face?  Was it just a desperate request?  Certainly their fate was clear – they were going to die in an excruciating manner.  Even though he feared God – God didn’t seem too interested at the moment.  He didn’t say “save us!”- like the other criminal.  He only asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus came into his kingdom.  One can’t say for sure, but it seems that there in the most desperate of moments, the face of God was revealed to him like the answer to a prayer. His confession of sin, acceptance of just punishment and recognition of the guiltless man hanging with them seemed to allow a glimpse of an existence beyond this life.  No bargaining – just a simple request.  Jesus answered with a fact, not a promise, – “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”  How much greater a demonstration of God’s grace does one need?  If anyone would seem to be the “least qualified” by our earthly achievement standards to enter heaven, it would be a criminal condemned to death.  But at this point he had more faith in Jesus than all his followers put together.

On Good Friday as we grieve and remember the death of our brother, Jesus, we can find joy.  If we look to God in our every hour, even our most desperate, we can know that God is with us.  In Christ’s sacrifice the “slate” of our sins was forever dashed into a million pieces and we are set free.  To God be the Glory, great things He has done!

Phil and Amy Whitley

For reflection:

When have you had the opportunity to make sacrifices for another, and what insights does this give you into the depth of sacrifice of Jesus?

What are some of the thoughts and emotions that you bring to the Good Friday narrative?

What words, or urgent plea, do you have for Jesus?  What burdens are on your heart, that you place at the cross?