Friday 7 April: Good Friday – Crucifixion

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Holy Week

Bible reading: Matthew 27.27–61

We are the species that is haunted by death.

Not just for days or hours, like a pet that stops eating or elephants grieving their dead. 

We humans carry the weight of foreknowledge from a young age.

I remember my first childhood inkling of death: in my mind’s eye a dusky graveyard, tombstones, sombre and silent. That was decades ago. I haven’t forgotten.

On this Good Friday, we’re reflecting on the cross of Jesus. Crucifixion meant death. Pain, yes. Torture, yes. Humiliation, yes. But ultimately: death. That was the point of it all. You crucified someone to eradicate them, to end their life.

Jesus died because of corrupt leaders. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus died obeying God. All true.

But let’s put the ‘why’ and ‘because’ of Jesus’ death to one side for a moment. Instead, focus on the man himself, who knew all along that his public ministry would end like this: losing blood, struggling to breathe, fainting with pain. 

He quotes the beginning of Psalm 22: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Now, if you read the whole psalm, you’ll notice it ends in triumph. But when you’re suffocating, nails skewering your wrists to a cross, triumph must feel a long way off. My God, why have you forsaken me?

Umpteen times during his public ministry Jesus had got up close to human misery, but never closer than in the throes of death.

You and I know we must die. So did Jesus. He’s been there, done it. He went ahead of us. Good to know.

This reflection was written by Michael Pfundner, from the Publishing team at Bible Society.