This Good Friday, allow the grief to seep deep down into your bones, into your bowels. Meditate on the wounds, the suffering, and the deep, deep love of Christ. Allow the tears to well up from the pit of your being, escape your eyes, and roll down your face. Let the sobs rock your body. Leave the Good Friday service in silence. Extend your mourning through the night and into Saturday. Leave the TV off. Wear black. Refuse to medicate, distract, or otherwise soothe yourself. Mourn. Grieve.Read the rest.
If you do this, as the sun rises on Sunday, you will finally know what Easter is all about.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Be Freed To Mourn
Bob Hyatt:
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2 comments:
Here is what I posted on Bob Hyatt's site:
I understand where you are going and I think it is essential that we know how to grieve. And I agree that we really lack this ability which is why texts like Psalm 88 make no sense to us. But I have to disagree with the idea that Good Friday is primarily for mourning (it seems that you are saying this).
You write, "Good Friday ruined the first disciples’ weekend. Maybe we should allow it to ruin ours, as well. For them it felt like the end of the world." The first disciples were rebuked for having their weekends ruined. It was not the proper response then and it isn't the proper response now.
On the road to Emmaus as Jesus talked with the discouraged followers he rebuked them. "And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and pall the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:25-27). they were being foolish by being so despondent.
It is right that we call this "Good Friday" and not "Sad Friday". Of course it is helpful for us to enter into the pain of Jesus as he suffered for us (as much as we are able, since this is technically impossible), but we must never forget that this is a day of triumph. Jesus conquered by his death. And we ought to rejoice.
I think deep and profound joy with the sobering weight of Christ's suffering is what should mark us on this day - not pretending that all is ruined. I don't think we should ever live as though Easter Sunday isn't a certainty and even the disciples shouldn't have lived that way before they saw the risen Lord.
Great comment Dustin. I had never thought of that. Now I can preach that idea and give all the credit to myself! :)
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