John 19:1-24 - Holy Week Pt. 5/7
The Cross both enables Jesus to empathize with the pain we’ve suffered, and qualifies Jesus to absolve us from the the pain we’ve caused.
A man who should have been honored was shamed and humiliated.
A man who was innocent, was wrongfully tried, wrongfully convicted, and brutally murdered as if he was guilty.
Yet on Good Friday, a King was enthroned.
Consider the follow questions as you remember the cross this Good Friday.
1 - Think of the pain you’ve suffered. How might you take comfort in the empathy of Christ’s cross today, how might His wounds be a source of healing for you?
2 - Think of pain you’ve caused. Given your shame, given your guilt, how might you take comfort in the justice of the Christ’s Cross today? How has his bearing your shame and guilt liberated you?
3 - There is a tragic irony in this passage. The story is set up as a kind of upside down enthronement of a King.
What difference should it make in your life today, that we follow a crucified King? What might need to to change to align with this reality?
