Meditations On Good Friday

Meditation #1 - An Unexpected Encounter With Jesus: Simon of Cyrene

Mark 15:20–23 (ESV)

And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it.

20 Y después de haberse burlado de Él, le quitaron la púrpura, le pusieron sus ropas y le sacaron* para crucificarle.

21 Y obligaron* a uno que pasaba y que venía del campo, Simón de Cirene, el padre de Alejandro y Rufo, a que llevara la cruz de Jesús[g].

La crucifixión

22 Le llevaron* al lugar llamado Gólgota, que traducido significa: Lugar de la Calavera. 23 Y trataron de darle vino mezclado con mirra, pero Él no lo tomó.

We do not know much about Simon of Cyrene, some scholars believe he was a Jew traveling from Cyrene to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem, other scholars say he was Gentile from Cyrene travelling through Jerusalem or maybe living in Jerusalem. We do know that Simon was from Cyrene which was the Capital of a Roman Province of Cyrenaica in North Africa on the Mediterranean Sea. This town was known to have a large Jewish population, so there is a possibility Simon is travelling to Jerusalem for the Passover, to present Sacrifices at the Temple.

We also know Simon may have been travelling with his sons, Alexander and Rufus. By Mark mentioning Simon, Alexander and Rufus, it should lead us to believe that the people Mark was writing to knew Simon, Alexander and Rufus.

As Simon is travelling to Jerusalem, he comes into town and discovers a crowd of rioters, I am sure Simon did what we would all do, “what is going on over there?” Simon is drawn to all the commotion, and as he drew close, he has an unexpected encounter with Jesus.

Jesus has been beaten, tortured, his body bleeding profusely, with every second that passes Jesus is closer to death. The Roman Guards know this, and they do not want Jesus dying on the road to Golgatha. Simon is compelled, Luke says Simon was seized, forced to carry Jesus’s cross.

Simon of Cyrene, through the Gospels becomes forever linked to Jesus through this unexpected encounter of Jesus. Simon was travelling to Jerusalem and suddenly he is forced into the life of Jesus, forced to carry the cross of our dying King. An unexpected encounter with Jesus.

As we meditate on Simon’s unexpected encounter with Jesus, if you are a believer here to day, isn’t Simon’s story our story? I wasn’t looking for Jesus when I came to faith in Jesus, I am pretty sure you may not have been either. If we went around the room, we could all tell of our unexpected encounters with Jesus and how his death transformed our life. Just like Simon we were compelled, not by Roman Guards, but by Jesus himself, to carry the cross and follow him.

If you here this evening, and you are not a follower of Jesus, Jesus may be compelling you, maybe tonight is your unexpected encounter with the King of Hope.

Meditation #2 - The Secular, The Religious, and The Criminals Encounter With Jesus

Mark 15:24–32 (ESV)

And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified him. And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!” So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

24 Cuando le crucificaron*, se repartieron* sus vestidos, echando suertes[h]sobre ellos para decidir lo que cada uno tomaría. 25 Era la hora tercera[i]cuando[j] le crucificaron. 26 Y la inscripción de la acusación contra Él decía[k]: EL REY DE LOS JUDÍOS. 27 Crucificaron* con Él a dos ladrones; uno a su derecha y otro a su izquierda. 28 [l]Y se cumplió la Escritura que dice: Y con los transgresores fue contado. 29 Y los que pasaban le injuriaban, meneando la cabeza y diciendo: ¡Bah! Tú que destruyes el templo y en tres días lo reedificas, 30 ¡sálvate a ti mismo descendiendo de la cruz! 31 De igual manera, también los principales sacerdotes junto con los escribas, burlándose de Él entre ellos, decían: A otros salvó, a sí mismo no puede salvarse[m]. 32 Que este[n] Cristo, el Rey de Israel, descienda ahora de la cruz, para que veamos y creamos. Y los que estaban crucificados con Él también le insultaban.

Throughout the story of Jesus’ death, we see how the various crowds of people reacted to Jesus.

The Secular Crowd - This is Rome, the Roman Guards. They have no concern for who Jesus is, Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman Governor of Judea, the region much of Jesus ministry was in, washed his hands saying he is guiltless in Jesus’ death because the crowd yelled crucify him, and released Barabbas. The Roman Guards beat Jesus and tortured Jesus, mocking saying ‘Hail, king of the Jews and pretending to pay homage to Jesus.

The Religious Crowd - The chief priest and scribes were not much better, telling Jesus to save himself, “he saved others but cannot save himself” “Come down from the cross and we will believe”. Mocking their long awaited Messiah.

The Criminals - Mark tells us even the criminals he was crucified with mocked Jesus.

The Secular, Religious, The Criminals all mocking the dying king. The very King who was paying the punishment for sin, who was taking the wrath of God, so that humanity can receive mercy, was ridiculed. mocked and rejected.

What will you do with with Jesus, King of kings?

That is the decision we are faced with tonight.

Will you treat Jesus like the Secular crowd as just another man?

Will you treat him like the Religious crowd and mock and reject him, because you think you know better?

Will you treat him like the criminals and insult him with your words and actions?

At one point in time we were part of this crowd, we dismissed Jesus, we rejected Jesus, we insulted him with our words and actions. The question is, are you still there tonight?

“Behold the man upon the cross

Ahi, el hombre en esa cruz esta

My sin upon his shoulders

Y El carga con mis culpas

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Verguenza siento al escuchar

Call out among the scoffers

mi voz entre las burlas ”

Meditation #3 Unexpected Hope in the Death of The King

Luke 23:34 (ESV)

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

34 Y Jesús decía: Padre, perdónalos, porque no saben lo que hacen[q]. Y echaron suertes, repartiéndose entre sí sus vestidos.

Luke 23:39–43 (ESV)

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

39 Y uno de los malhechores que estaban colgados allí le lanzaba insultos[t], diciendo: ¿No eres tú el Cristo[u]? ¡Sálvate a ti mismo y a nosotros! 40 Pero el otro le contestó, y reprendiéndole, dijo: ¿Ni siquiera temes tú a Dios a pesar de que estás bajo la misma condena? 41 Y nosotros a la verdad, justamente, porque recibimos lo que merecemos por nuestros hechos[v]; pero este nada malo ha hecho. 42 Y decía: Jesús, acuérdate de mí cuando vengas en[w] tu reino. 43 Entonces Él le dijo: En verdad te digo: hoy estarás conmigo en el paraíso.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”

Imagine the scene, Jesus has been unjustly tried by the Sanhedrin in the middle of the night, unjustly tried by Rome, beat, whipped, tortured, carried his cross until he couldn’t carry it anymore, stripped of his clothes, nailed to a cross, and while all this is going on he is being mocked by the Roman guards, mocked by the crowds of people who were crying out, Hosanna to the Son of David, just a few days ago, mocked and ridiculed by the Jewish Religious leaders, even mocked by the criminals that are crucified with him. Despite all this, the first words Jesus speaks from the cross are not words of judgement, but words of mercy, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The prayer of our King, as he is taking on the sins of the world, as he is receiving the wrath of God, as the holiness of God and the love of God are intersecting at the cross, Jesus, is praying for those who carried out the the plan of God, the crucifixion of the Son of God, the King of kings. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”

Imagine being there, witnessing everything that is going on, and the first words from the mouth of the man in the middle cross is “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The words have to bring shock, maybe awe, it has to bring some to wonder, what are we doing? What have we done?

Yet others continue to revile Jesus, one of the criminals, “are you not the Christ, save yourself, and save us too!” The criminal, even in death, still mocking Jesus, still looking out for himself. If you are God, you can do this for me, as if God owes him. Maybe you are here today and you are angry with God, maybe you feel like God has given you a bad deal in this life, maybe you feel entitled or that God owes you. Maybe you are here and shaking your fists at the heavens in anger. Jesus is praying for you today “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

We know those words had a profound impact on someone, because the other criminal went from insults to illumination, he went reviling to repenting. Listen to his words;

“Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

He tells his parter, we deserve this, we are receiving our just punishment, but this man, this man has done nothing wrong. As this criminal is hanging on the cross, at one point speaking insults to Jesus, suddenly his eyes are opened to the truth and realizes Jesus is innocent, Jesus is being condemned for something he doesn’t deserve. In this moment he realizes his guilt, and in a moment of confession, he confesses his sins and confesses Jesus innocence.

As this criminal, this man, begins to realize who Jesus is, he has an outrageous request:

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Remember me Jesus, when all this is over and you enter into your kingdom, remember me. Jesus, I know I am in the last moments of my life, and I have wasted so many moments of my life living for myself, but Jesus, I do not want to waste another moment, I don’t want to waste this unexpected encounter, Jesus, remember me. Jesus remember me, the confession and hopeful request from this criminal, isn’t that our request when we come to Jesus. Jesus I know I am a sinner, I have insulted your holy name, forgive me Jesus, Jesus remember me.

One criminal insulting Jesus, looking out for himself, the other confessing his guilt and Jesus’s innocence, looking for hope. Where are you today? Are you still insulting Jesus because you want to live for your self, because you are enjoying living in your sin and you are rejecting the one who expressed his love for you by laying down his life, paying the penalty of sin to blaze a trail to the Father. Or are you ready to confess your sin and believe in Jesus and trust in him, are you ready to cry out to Jesus, remember me.

On this Holy Friday, in this holy moment, what we find in the death of Jesus is Unexpected Hope in the Death of Our King.

Jesus’ words to this criminal is “Truly I say to you, Today you will be with me in paradise.” When Jesus says truly I say to you, Jesus is saying you can be confident in this, there is no denying what I am about to say, today, you will be with me in paradise. This criminal thought his day was going to end death, but because of Jesus, he went from death to life. Because of his unexpected encounter with Jesus, he found unexpected hope in the death of The King.

As Jesus is dying on the cross he is still saving people. In our passage this criminal finds unexpected hope in the death of the King

In the book of John we read of the Roman Soldier, who finds unexpected hope in the death of the King.

As Jesus is dying on the cross, he is still saving people, today Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father, he is still saving people. All who come to Jesus in repentance and faith, Jesus says “truly I say to you, you will be with me in paradise. In Jesus, we find unexpected hope in the death of Our King.