A Good Friday Meditation – 2021

I wanted to give a shorter mediation than what I have been doing on Sundays.

So let us begin with the Lectionary Readings …

(By the way, if you would like to see a page with the Sunday reflections you can follow this link.)

The Lectionary Readings for today

Scripture Lessons for Good Friday:

Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12; Psalm 22; Hebrews 10:16-15 or Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1 – 19:42

Meditation on Good Friday

Pax Romana

Pax Romana (or Roman Peace) came with a price. Constant fighting at the boarders continued, even when Rome decided not to increase her boundaries. Furthermore, any resistance was quickly and forcibly put down.

The decades on either side of Jesus’ life saw political resistance movements (in particular insurrectionist movements) that were forcibly stopped through brutal violence. It was quite common to gather all those involved in an “insurrection” and crucify all the men, while selling the women and children into slavery. Young boys were decided on a case-by-case basis: if he was seen as someone who would carry on the resistance to Roman Rule, he was crucified. If he wasn’t seen as a threat, the boy would be sold into slavery.

Paula Fredriksen points out that one of the unique things about Jesus’ crucifixion is that it was just Jesus, not the entire group, who was crucified. Her book (Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews) examines what this might mean. *

Has Anything Really Changed?

While looking that Roman Empire, what similarities do we see with any of our present or past-present empires? How are “insurrectionists” or “resistance” movements handled? Who continues to be “crucified” in modern ways? What kind of responsibly do those of us who call ourselves “Christians” have?

Popular After Death

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was declared the most unpopular person in America. Yet, once he died, people came out in his support.

The same was probably true for Jesus. We know the end of the story, but those living through the events did not. Taking the above information from Pax Romana, would you have really stayed behind? Would you have even been a disciple? Or would it have been more comfortable to be like Joseph of Arimathea, and offer up a tomb to place the dead body in after all the events were concluded?

A Woman’s Gospel

There is starting to be some debate as to whose Gospel the crucifixion (and resurrection) accounts are. Afterall, who is present for the events? Which characters stay the course? The women do, of course. Mary Magdalene is mentioned in all four accounts as being present throughout, but especially at the tomb. She really is the first Apostle (although the other women certainly share in this).

Whose stories do we overlook? Whose tales do we discount?

It’s all About Courage

It is really all about courage and waking up, isn’t it?

If I’m truly honest with myself, there are times that I do not hesitate to stand up and work toward the Reign of God. But there are other times that I find myself being complacent or lacking courage. You find yourself here, too? I think it is called being human.

A Good Friday Service

We’ve included a Good Friday Service that you are free to use.

Our original idea was that it would work for those who are out sailing and therefore unable to join a community. This year (due to the virus) it might become handy for you to use in your home.

* See Paula Fredriksen. Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews.

Currently I’m re-reading John Dominic Crossan’s The Birth of Christianity

_____/)__________(\__________/)_____

Most of the links in this post are to other pages.

The links in this post are affiliate links through Bookshop.org for your convenience. If you were to purchase something by following the links, we would get a small commission at no extra expense to you, while you get to support a local bookstore. Thank you for the support. If you’d like to see other books I’ve recommended, click here.

If you feel you must shop through Amazon, here are our affiliate links. Again, thank you for sending us a little something at no extra expense to you.

John Dominic Crossan’s The Birth of Christianity

Paula Fredriksen. Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews