A Meditation on the Death of Jesus
Psalm 143:5
Good Friday 2008

CONGREGATION OF JESUS CHRIST:
THIS EVENING WE pause. We sit in silence and hear the story of our Savior’s death. We respond with the Savior’s very own words, even empathizing with his sufferings as he empathized with our weakness. This evening we join the Psalmist, saying, I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands (Ps. 143:5).

Let us remember those ancient days, which by faith are as yesterday. Let us meditate on what God has done in his story of redemption, which he has done for us. Let us ponder anew that old, old story, which is our story, our song, and our salvation.

Let us pause and meditate.

The Lord washed the feet of his servants but was betrayed by a friend. The Lord, who in his goodness created the world and continued to give life to those who rebelled against him, is hated by his creatures. The Lord who rules as King over all is subjected to the unjust legal system of men. The Lord who healed peoples’ sicknesses and diseases is mercilessly betrayed by his own. The Lord who was clothed in a garment of his own righteousness was stripped naked. The Lord who made man in his image to praise and glorify God is mocked and cursed. The Lord who separated the light from the darkness is covered in the gloom of darkness as he feels his Father’s wrath—My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? The Lord who created man by uniting two substances—the dust of the earth and the breath of life—experiences the separation of the two. The Lord who mercifully and graciously promised a way of salvation to his rebellious creatures, confirming his plan over and over for thousands of years finally cries out: It is finished!

When we meditate upon the death of Jesus we experience the heinous consequence of our sin. By Adam’s sin we lost life and fellowship with God and the only way that life and fellowship could be restored was through death. We understand that it wasn’t for this person’s sin or that person’s sin that Jesus was put to death, but for my sins—

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon Thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone Thee!
‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied Thee;
I crucified Thee.

When we meditate upon the death of Jesus, therefore, we experience the justice of God. More than just God requiring death for sin, Jesus’ death satisfies that justice. His death does not just demonstrate God’s moral government of the universe; it does not just demonstrate his love as an example for us; instead, his death quenches the once inconsumable fires of God’s wrath and justice towards me. Sin is extinguished! Satan’s power is nullified! My guilt is taken away!

When we meditate upon the death of Jesus we experience the wisdom of God. Who could ever have conceived of such a plan? In all the wisdom of the world’s philosophies and religions it comes down either to denying the existence of sin and evil—even God—or leaves satisfaction up to the individual. Yet our Triune God covenanted from all eternity to send the eternal Son of the Father to take upon himself our humanity, yet remain divine. In his death God can be both just and merciful; just in paying the penalty of sin to God and merciful in showering upon us the blessings of such satisfaction. In the death of Jesus God is both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom. 3:26).

When we meditate upon the death of Jesus we experience, ultimately, the love of God. As Paul described the shallowness of our love in contrast to God’s, saying:

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would even dare to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:6–8).

What wondrous love is this? Love so high, love so deep, love so wide, love so incomprehensible that our Lord even said while on the cross: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).

Let us meditate this night on those days of old for they bring us God’s goodness and grace. Let us meditate on all that God has done for he does it for us. Let us ponder the work of the Lord’s hands—hands that flung stars into space yet were pierced for you and me.

In the name of Jesus. Amen!