The Invisible Man: Reflections on Good Friday

Last updated on: April 13, 2016 at 8:59 am by David Bordy

The Invisible Man: Reflections on Good Friday 2016-04-13T08:59:04-05:00 David Bordy

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Photo Attribution: “Pasqua, Easter” by Giulio Bernardi; CC 2.0

This Good Friday, I got to witness a local small-town church put on a live-action performance of some of the traditional “Stations of the Cross”, reenacting different stories that took place along Christ’s journey from His “trial” to His death. Shivering teenagers braved the brisk winds in their tunics. The red feathers on Roman centurion helmets fluttered in the breeze… and in the middle of it all, there stood 3 main figures: A Nike-shoed Jesus figure (beard, fake blood, the crown of the thorns, the works), the church minister (a proclaimer of the gospel), and a church deacon to read the scriptures. In the background stood the few community Christians who came together to watch the action…and in the far distance stood a lone cameraman covering the event for the small-town 5:00 news.

Each player in this public community display walked from station to station, with the small crowd following. The path marked out paralleled along the sidewalk of the town’s main drive, all the way back to the church. The voice of the read scripture was quiet, barely heard. The minister, also barely heard, told of what this read word means to our lives… and all in the middle of an otherwise busy street on a typical small-town afternoon.

As I observed this, I couldn’t help but think that there has got to be some sort of metaphor here for contemporary Christianity. In the midst of a noisy, everyday secular life stands 3 major players: Jesus Christ Himself, the Word of God, and the faithful proclaimer of that word (aka your local evangelical church pastor). Walking behind these down the road are the small remnant of believers who choose, in spite of what others may think of them, to publically follow all three… all the way to the Cross. The disciples didn’t do that (save John). The throngs of people shouting “Hosanna” and the hundreds who were healed didn’t do that. Yet, the faithful remnant, by the power and leading of the Holy Spirit, follow Christ, his word, and biblical teaching to the letter every day (or at least they should).

Then there are those who “while seeing, do not see” (Matt. 13:13). First, you have the “cameramen” of the world….those who follow Jesus, but only to the extent where they can take the true gospel of Christ home with them, to later edit it… thereby not only polishing it up but also removing any parts of it that might be disagreeable to the masses; parts that might make them “uncomfortable”. Finally, there are the others into whose context this drama of redemption is inserted. Some might slow down long enough to catch a glimpse in their rear-view mirror. Others might drive on by, just rolling their eyes. Still others might rev there massive truck engines as a cruel mocking joke (yes, that actually happened).

The drama, however, remain unphased by all of these. There were many who, by their noise… by their deception… by theircritiques… by their unbelief… tried to silence this divine drama when it played out 2,000 years ago. Today, there are still those who seek to do the same, and the voice of opposition grows ever stronger. But the drama of redemption rolls along unphased. Jesus Christ’s divine sacrifice on the cross stands in the public square… fully visible to anyone who will stop long enough to see it… and yet so many don’t. Many will stop only long enough to smile and say “Well isn’t that nice?” or “I wish these nut jobs would stay indoors”, never truly taking part in the painful drama that was played out on their behalf. When Jesus said “Take up YOUR cross and follow me”, He was talking about dying with Him; about walking the same road HE walked. But, for many, that’s by far too uncomfortable… that requires far too much commitment… that requires way too much sacrifice.

Many “believers” are happy to watch their kids wave branches in church on Palm Sunday… and many more are pleased sing and dance and smile and rejoice with the happy, resurrected Jesus in the pews on Easter morning…. And yet, MANY Good Friday services sit 95% empty. Why is that? The answer goes so much deeper than “It’s hard cuz work during the week”. Could it be because no one truly wants to think about the Jesus on the cross? Could it be because it is our guilt and shame that held Him there and we’re too afraid to even think about it, let alone confess it? And yet, we have the nerve to call it GOOD Friday?

Good Friday can only be good if all three players in the divine drama are present, each with their own special benefit for your life. I have no doubt that many Christians are willing to focus on Jesus (resurrected or otherwise). But where are all those same Christians to be found when it’s time to listen to (aka study) God’s words in the Bible? Where are those same Christians when it’s time to listen to the man called by God to proclaim His word from the pulpit, in order to help you learn and grow in righteousness? And where are those same Christians when the opportunities of life call for you to pick up your cross… to come and die to yourself … in order to find yourself buried and raised in your Savior? Those Christians arenowhere to be found… because they let the busy noise of everyday life… the distractions of a loudly sinful culture… and the cold winds of discomfort for publically following Him overwhelm them… Most importantly, they take their eyes off the One in the center.

Many of you know that God said in Psalm 46:10 “Be still (“SHUT UP!” in the Hebrew) and know that I am God”. Well, if we are going to make this Good Friday GOOD, we too need to shut up and put Jesus back into the center. We need to strain our ears and listen intently to the word and its exposition as they are being proclaimedin the midst of the noise. We need to tune out all other distractions and never take our eyes off Christ as we follow Him. We must never seek to edit, change, dilute, or cheapen God’s word or Christ’s gospel (see Revelation 22:18-19). Finally, and with most difficulty, we must take up our cross and die with Christ… finding true abundant life that He paid the ultimate price to give us. Then, and only then, can Good Friday truly be good.

“Though none go with me, still I will follow.
Though NONE go with, still I will follow.
Though none go with me, still I WILL follow.
No turning back. NO turning back!”

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