Good Friday
D. G. Phillips
Evening Prayer
Cherry Hill,
LaHave and Petite Riviere, March 21, AD 2008
John 18:33-19:37
Mercy and
truth are met together;
righteousness
and peace have kissed each other. [Ps 85:10]
What words can
be spoken at all on such a day as this?
Here laid bare
before the eyes of the world is a deep mystery of Divine love:
a greater
redemption than was brought about by the flood in the time of Noah;
a greater
salvation than when the people of Israel were brought through the
Red Sea in the time of Moses. Yet both of these pointed
to that flood that opened up on Calvary – the Red sea of Jesus’
blood shed for God’s people. May His blood be upon us and upon
our children.
But what act of
God could free us from our sins, and change us forever? What act of God
could cut through the lies that we tell ourselves about ourselves?
We’ve all known
the pain of being exposed to the sharp point of truth about
ourselves when wielded by someone out of hatred and not love. Truth without
mercy can be dangerous weapon. Truth without mercy would have us stone the women caught in adultery – yet
Truth would have us see that all are deserving of being stoned to
death if there is no mercy… For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. [Rom 3:23]
But here, on the
Cross, mercy and truth are met together.
Here we can be
certain of the nature of God – loving, forgiving, and just. Here on the
Cross justice is met, forgiveness is extended, love becomes known. Here we know
that God sent not his Son into the
world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be
saved.
Whosoever believeth on him is not condemned:
not because truth does not matter, not because justice does not
matter, but because on the Cross mercy and truth are met
together.
And by mercy
and truth iniquity is purged. [Pr 16:6] When we look
upon the Cross, at the One who died there, God gives us the courage
to look at ourselves and to confess our sins, that we may be
cleansed of all unrighteousness.
On the Cross,
Mercy and truth are met together;
and
Righteousness
and peace have kissed each other.
If we trust in
His offering, we are justified, made righteous in the sight of God.
When the Father looks upon us, He sees the righteousness of His Son
and we have peace with God, we are reconciled. Here, at the
foot of the Cross, we can finally enter into God’s rest. There is
no lifetime of trying to make up for past sins – as if we could ever
do that. Here our lives can start afresh.
Here we can
behold our God, no longer in terror of condemnation, but in loving
adoration.
And when we look
upon what humanity did to the Son of Man, what our sin did to the
Son of Man, our hatred of truth is undone, our love of power over
others is undone, our vain pursuits are exposed for what they are.
Our desire, which is endlessly reaching out for satisfaction,
finally finds its rest. Here we can rest our eyes in worship on
the One who made us and redeemed us by His blood. At the foot of
the Cross is the peace which every human being seeks, and will not
rest until it finds it in Christ.
On the Cross
Mercy and truth are met together;
Righteousness
and peace have kissed each other.
The Sacraments
of Baptism and Communion
are effective because of the Cross. They are the normal means by which we
receive all the benefits of His death and passion. And a change
comes about in us, when we receive them in faith. Our sin
sick souls are not only forgiven but also transformed by grace.
Here, upon the Cross that is his throne our Lord can say, Behold, I make all things
new. [Rev. 21:5] We offend one another less and less, we forgive one
another more and more – and the city of God is built up.
Because of the
Cross, Mercy and truth are met together in us;
righteousness and peace have kissed each other in us.
But what words
can be spoken at all on such a day as this? Perhaps it is best
left to the words of worship and praise and thanksgiving.
Lord Jesus
Christ, who for the redemption of mankind did ascend the Cross, to
enlighten the world that lay in darkness: Gather us this day with
all thy faithful to that same holy Cross; that, gazing in penitence
upon thy great sacrifice for us, we may be loosed from all our sins,
and, entering into the mystery of thy passion, be crucified to the
vain pomp and power of this passing world; and finding our glory in
the Cross alone, we may attain to thy everlasting joy; where thou,
the Lamb that once was slain, livest and reignest with the Father
and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
