Friday, April 2, 2010

Good Friday

...the title given this day always
confused me as a child, what could
be considered 'good' about the
death of Jesus on the cross?

At our Bible Study yesterday
one of our members also commented
on how she found the 'Maundy Thursday'
service to be unsettling, such sadness
and darkness take reign over
the worship service.
Although we all understood the sadness
 of the impending death of our Savior
contributed to the tone of this service
she felt that perhaps this service should
actually be held on 'Good Friday'
the actual day Jesus was crucified.
That the fellowship of Christ with his
disciples at the Last Supper
and the humble nature of our Lord
washing their feet is what should
be reflectedupon on Maundy Thursday.
It was an interesting and thoughtful
meeting to be sure.
On the one hand the brutality
of what happened on that fateful day
could hardly be considered 'good'
the promise of fulfillment of the Scriptures
as well as the promise of Eternal Life
with our Lord are to be considered good.
There have been many artistic
interpretations of the Crucifixion,
growing up Catholic the image
of the cross was ever present
in our church,

 in our home, on our jewelry.

In the Presbyterian Church
where I am now a member the Crucifix
is empty, focusing on the resurrection.

Which ever way you choose to
view the Cross
we should all focus on the cost
of our Salvation.

Those who witnessed this event
first hand could grasp the momentousness
of the sacrifice, I cannot even begin
to imagine what pain Mary experienced
watching her son die for us.

Each year on Good Friday my family
sits down to watch 'The Passion',
which I know was extremely controversial
when it first came out, and it probably
still is seen as such by many.
What I can tell you is that watching
this film forever changed my view
on the the Crucifixion.
This was no longer just a story retold
each spring or some hollywood epic
film of old.
The reality of Christ's sacrifice
made me feel ever more responsibility
to earn God's favor.
I am undeserving of this gift
of salvation,
but Christ paid the price for me,
and you.

This film is quite graphic and not suited for young children
but if you truly want to experience the enormity
of what Easter is all about I highly recommend you watch it.

17 comments:

  1. beautiful post, diva. many Easter blessings to you and your family!
    xox, :))

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  2. I watched this film between the heart ache and tears. To think what Christ went through this, I wanted to beat everyone up who was hurting him.
    Just terrible, to think that these people could sink so low to hurt a man this way, let alone an innocent pure man.
    You are so right, it doesn't matter one bit how we see the cross with Jesus on it or just the cross. The gift is there.
    I love God and Jesus!
    Thank you so much for sharing this post.

    Hope you have an amazing weekend!

    Hugs!

    Julie

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  3. Diva amor, I just wanted to wish you & your family a beautiful and blessed Easter. Besos, Rose

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  4. I rather like the idea your fellow bible study class mate had about Maundy Thursday an Good Friday observances.

    When The Passion first came out on DVD, I bought it and watched it twice within 40 hours, the second time setting up chairs for friends, family and neighbors to watch it with me.

    It was life changing for me then and when I've watched it since then. The story became real,as you said; the characters became people I knew. And my whole idea of Mary was revolutionized!

    Loved this post, Diva!

    Happy Easter!

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  5. When this movie first came out I was nervous to watch it for fear that it would make me too sad and yet, when I finally saw it, it just made me more grateful. Thanks for the beautiful post. Have a good Easter Diva.

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  6. I watched the film several years ago and it is moving. The cruxifiction scene is brutal, but it even cannot compare with what Christ went though on our behalf. He loved(s) us so much.

    I wish you a blessed and joyful Resurrection Sunday. He is risen!

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  7. I agree, this is a really hard movie to watch, but very powerful. Love all your artwork, especially the goldfinch and strawberries....and a very Happy Easter to you!

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  8. Amazing love,
    amazing grace!!
    So hard to comprehend the depth of it.

    May you have a blessed Easter!

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  9. What a beautiful tribute to what Easter is all about. Thanks so very much for your visit and kind words.

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  10. I saw the movie when it first came out. It certainly shows how horrible the crucifixion really was. Good Friday was terrible and yet good at the same time. It was good for all of us. That was what mattered to Him.
    Blessings,
    Charlotte

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  11. I went with friends to see The Passion when it first came to theaters. Afterward, none of us spoke for quite a while. It made my heart ache, and I've never forgotten the images.

    One of my small collections is rosaries. Imagine that! A Methodist collecting rosaries! I'm enthralled with their diversity, beauty and symbolism. I even made a few a couple of years ago.

    We're fortunate to be Christians. We always have "hope". We don't need it from anywhere or anyone else but the One true Savior.

    Happy Easter, my dear Diva.
    Hugs from Florida.
    Donna

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  12. Wishing you a happy and blessed Easter! xx Gypsy Purple

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  13. I have not seen The Passion, for the simple reason that I don't think I could bear to see Jesus in such a real & graphic movie.. does that make sense? it would break my heart to see it so real.

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  14. Happy Easter, have a wonderful day!
    ~Michelle

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  15. I have yet to see the movie, but our Pastor highly recommended that we see it (in his sermon on Sunday). And yes, I agree with you, I often questioned the "good Friday" title, but good for me I guess, in that it was for me, that He died. I would have loved to have heard the discussion, it sounded interesting. Thanks for a beautiful post!
    -c
    yapping cat

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  16. This was such a moving film. I don't think I could watch it more than once. Thanks for this post.

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