Good Friday Sermon 2018

And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)

Many people have spoken, in the past, about a kind of legal requirement for Jesus to die as he did – judged, tortured, mocked, beaten, whipped, stripped, humiliated. His last steps – a parade through the streets, to the dump, where nails are driven trough his hands, his feet – nailed to a rough wooden cross, abandoned by his disciples. There are some strangers there (bystanders), one disciple, a few women, but Jesus is feeling abandoned, even by God. He is left there to die.

This legal understanding seems to suggest, and some say so, that we are the ones who deserve punishment, but Jesus receives it instead, so that we can walk away – free. Like the temple sacrifices, so familiar to Peter and Paul, and all those who first heard the story of the crucified savior. It’s a gift that makes peace with God.

But, what kind of God desires such a thing – the sacrifice of a dove, or a lamb, or a ram, or a human being? In these things, God takes no pleasure.

Don’t for a moment think that our ancestors were comfortable with this idea of offering sacrifices to appease an angry God. They had been questioning the practice for generations and there are lots of scriptural references that say so. Besides, an angry God is not the God-of-love that Jesus proclaims.

So, if it’s not a sacrifice of appeasement, what kind of sacrifice is it? If it’s a sacrifice at all. The writers of the New Testament look at the sacrifice in three principle ways:

First, as a rescue mission – the sacrifice Jesus makes is to break the chains of evil and death.

Second, what Jesus did, he did for many… not just for a few people living 2000 years ago, but for every one …of every time.

Third, it seals the deal between God and humanity, and all of creation. The deal is also known as the Covenant – that agreement between God and us, that God will be God and we will be God’s people.

All three of these ways of talking about the crucifixion are not meant to be definitive explanations, each one has its own weaknesses.

They are trying to put into words that, at the heart of the sacrifice Jesus makes is obedience.

The basic point is that Jesus gave his heart to God – that is the sacrifice God expect of us too. I can’t lie to you… this is a dangerous mission God offers us – should we choose to accept it. Jesus paid for his obedience.

What pleases God is to look into our world, into our hearts and to see God’s own reflection, to see God’s love, glory and beauty in us. That’s what pleases God – not burnt offerings – not crucifixions.

Obedience is not jumping when told to jump. Obedience is living in harmony with God’s will – showing God’s transforming love and justice in our lives.

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ turns the idea of sacrifice on its head. In the Temple, the priest offers sacrifices to God, the priest acts and blood is shed, and a completely senseless act accomplishes nothing.

Jesus, on the other hand, is one who is a perfect reflection of God’s love, and it is in him that God acts. It is God who makes the sacrifice, it is God who is judged, and tortured, and mocked, and beaten, and whipped, and stripped, and humiliated. It is God who takes those steps – on parade through the streets, to the dump, where nails are driven through God’s hands and feet, it is God who is nailed to a rough wooden cross, it is God who is abandoned by his disciples, while bystanders look on (and one disciple, a few women). It is God who doesn’t strike back. It is God who is left there to die – abandoned.

In this utterly selfless act God makes peace with us – God invites us into relationship – God looks to see God’s-self reflected in our lives.

¹⁰And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Amen.