FRIDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD (GOOD FRIDAY)

Their guilt he shall bear. 

Though written nearly six centuries before Christ, the “Servant Songs” in the Book of Isaiah are remarkable for the way they seem to describe Jesus and his mission. Today’s reading even sums up what Jesus would accomplish by his passion and death: “Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear” (Isaiah 53:11).

Yes, Jesus willingly bore our guilt. He even bore the guilt of the very people who were complicit in his arrest, trial, and crucifixion! John’s passion narrative, which we read every Good Friday, makes it clear who they are:

• Judas, one of the Twelve, who followed Jesus from the beginning of his public ministry and yet still made the grievous decision to betray him.
• The high priest Caiaphas, who failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and sent him to be tried before the Roman authorities.
• Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, who swore that he would die rather than turn on his Master but then denied three times that he even knew him.
• Pontius Pilate, who knew that Jesus was innocent but, fearing the reaction of the people, condemned him to death.
• The people in the crowd, who called out to Pilate, “Crucify him!”

Of this cast of characters, we only know of one person, Peter, who responded to the grace of the cross and received Jesus’ forgiveness (John 21). Fully restored, Peter went on to preach the good news and ultimately give his life for the Lord.

The truth is that all the people in this story could have repented and turned to the Lord—even in the last hour of their lives. Despite their treatment of him, Jesus loved them, and by “his stripes,” he offered all of them healing and forgiveness (Isaiah 53:5). And perhaps some of them did accept his mercy!

Astounding? Yes. But that’s the message of the cross. Not only on Good Friday, but every day, let that message speak to you: You are loved. You are forgiven. You are redeemed.

“Jesus, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you for bearing my guilt so that I might be healed of all the wounds of sin.”

Isaiah 53:13-53:12
Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25
Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
John 18:1–19:42