Meditation for Good Friday's "Chief Service"

Here is the meditation that I expect to deliver, God-willing, to those gathered this evening for the Good Friday "Chief Service" at Emmanuel Lutheran Church--Van Wert, Ohio . . .

Divine Economics: Suffering

Part III of the Holy Week Sermon Series

by Rev. Lance Armstrong O’Donnell, Pastor

Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Van Wert, Ohio

Good Friday

10 April, A.D. 2009

Isa 52.13-15.12; 2 Cor 5.14-21; Jn 18.1-19.42

CCT: We learn through the Passion of Christ to see through suffering to the joys of a reconciled life.

Introduction: Suffering is Alien

It would seem that we are doomed to suffer, that in the divine order of things--the "divine economics"--we are simply “sinners in the hands of an angry God,” but the truth is that suffering is alien to man . . . because man was made in the image and likeness of God, and “in God” were are told in First John 1, “there is no darkness at all.” (1 Jn 1.5)

Suffering is alien to man . . . that is why your sense of justice is aroused when someone talks behind your back at school, at work, or at home.

Suffering is alien to man . . . that is why your sense of justice is aroused when you are summarily layed-off, fired, or forced into retirement. 

Suffering is alien to us. This means, quite simply, that we were not intended to suffer. It is “foreign” to our nature. That is why, deep in our souls, we reject and despise suffering. Indeed, those made in the image and likeness of God were intended to live with boundless joy and purpose in the presence of God, and to steward a creation at one with its Trinitarian Creator.

I. The Reality of Suffering

Yet, our forefathers chose suffering when they denied God’s Word and coveted God’s place and status.

Let us not forget that. Let us not blame God for the world’s suffering.

Let us not forget that even we too, the Baptized, as the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve, often choose to deny God’s Word and covet God’s place and status. 

Yet again, even as we choose suffering; perhaps, rather, as we “reap the harvest of sin,” there is something deep within us, the divinely-given sense of justice by which we know our right sentence, by which we cry for help, that knows deep-down, that we cannot help ourselves out of this predicament.

II. Justice is Done

Witness, then, fellow sinner-saints, the greatest injustice in history. Even Pilate recognized it. “This man has done nothing wrong!” he cried out to the crowd, and yet in fear and cowardice they cried out, and we (in a sense) with them, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” 

Witness Him, brethren, for He does not cry out for revenge. Why?

Why? Because He is The Lamb, the perfect final offering, and--all appearances to the contrary--the cross is His throne. The cross is His throne becasue He was there at the Creation. He was the one walking in the Garden. He was the One who later wrestled with Jacob, the One Job knew he would see face-to-face. He who participated in the “very good” Creation knew what justice demanded, and effectively said, as we will sing in a moment: 

“Yes, Father, yes, most willingly

I’ll bear what You command Me.

My will conforms to Your decree,

I’ll do what You have asked Me.” 

(“A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.” Lutheran Service Book #438:3. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006)

You see, as odd as it may seem, the cross is the end of true suffering. We will never endure the Son of God’s suffering, being utterly forsaken by the Father. His very purpose in ascending the cross is to avert that doom for us. This is why the Scriptures say that He went to the cross “for the joy set before Him.” (Heb 12.2)

We are His joy. He takes our punishment that we--though Him--might know the love of the Father; that we might have the image and likeness of God restored and live again--in spite of the difficulties and challenges of living “between the ages”--with boundless joy and purpose in the presence of God, using our gifts without fear and stewarding a creation that, like us, is between the times and groaning in eager expectation for the Son of God’s return.

Conclusion: Seeing Through Suffering

So it is that with the eyes of faith we now see through challenges and suffering for even the challenges and “suffering” of this life are redeemed by Him.

Thus, in thankfulness, we will conclude today:

Your cross I place before me;

Its saving pow’r restore me,

Sustain me in the test.

It will, when life is ending,

Be guiding and attending

My way to Your eternal rest.

(“Upon the Cross Extended.” Lutheran Service Book #453:7. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006)

Believing and Baptized, you are His. His victory over the cross and grave is your victory. His triumph is your triumph.

Yes, in a sense, we suffer in these last days, and that is a challenge, but do not be afraid, for suffering could not hold him, and you are His. Amen