Would you be Peter, the thief, or John?

Would you be Peter, the Thief, or John?

I remember Good Friday service from the time that I was able to just start understanding what all the talking was about all of the readings that made us stand for what seemed like an hour, and made us say things I didn’t want to say. We were to speak for the crowd that wanted Jesus crucified and I was in such protest of that until, well I still am. How can I say out loud “Crucify him!” when that is the last thing that I would want to happen? So I stood silent and didn’t participate in about 55 years of opportunities to do so.

Tonight, I wondered if my silence was a tell-tale sign of what person I would most likely be in the chapter of Jesus’s violent and unjustified death.

Would I be Peter?

“Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.” ~ Luke 22:54-62

Would I be the thief?

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” ~ Luke 23:39-43

Or would I be John?

“Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[ here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” ~ John 19:25-27

Every single day we have the challenge to be one of these to a situation that is on our path. We can deny, we can speak up, or we can show up.

I find all of the option to be absolutely exhausting! And I find it frustrating that we have to do any of these! Yet I understand that we have been given the freedom of choice. We can choose to be any of these at any of the crossroads of our lives. We can stand up for the person being wrongly treated, we can join in the water-cooler gossip on the one that doesn’t fit in, we can put our arms around the one who has been abandoned and abused and is struggling to simply make it through the most difficult chapter in their lives.

Good Friday is such an oxymoron. How can a day so tragic be labeled good? Like so much of the journey of faith we find confliction. On this day I see it more than any. I see the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Those that were the closest friends of Jesus either ran or lied.

Those that heard of Jesus and were inspired by him just days prior to celebrate him with a parade have now joined the crowd that yells in unison to “crucify him”.

One that is punished as he is, and is suffering and dying as he is, speaks up for him and receives a promise that his altruistic action will not be forgotten.

Then one that has walked with him for years, become friend and family, stands at the foot of the cross holding tight his mother, comforting her and committing to take care of her from this day forward.

So very many lessons on this day.

So much pain.

So much to learn.

So much to be challenged by.

What is “Good” about Good Friday?

Maybe the opportunity to challenge inner selves to see who we would be, and who we are in the greatest of challenges for those we walk with.

“What is good about Good Friday? Why isn't it called Bad Friday? Because out of the appallingly bad came what was inexpressibly good. And the good trumps the bad, because though the bad was temporary, the good is eternal.” ~ Randy Alcorn

I believe the lesson in today is to be forgiving, to be aware that when we do good we will be persecuted, but do good anyways, and to be love and light in all of our situations every single day. If Jesus could be literally NAILED to a cross and look to his right to listen, love, forgive, and encourage the one who was suffering the same death that he, yet who was repentful and defending of Jesus’s innocence. He loved with empathy, more powerful than sympathy, and promised with a truth that could not be matched.

Peter remained silent.

The thief spoke up.

John was present to do what he was called to do.

I hope to be a combination of the thief and John, yet I want the commitment of Peter because later he validated his love and commitment to Jesus even to death.

Today we are challenged to fast, pray, and remember.

I ask you to think.

Who are you most likely to be on Jesus’ last day on earth?

I hope the answer you offer is the who you are today.

We all have something to offer to better the world and bring those who struggle hope and healing.

If we get caught up in fear, denial, and overwhelming burdens given to us we will miss the opportunity to feel the freedom of grace and mercy.

My hopes for you are to feel the euphoric grace that the thief on the right felt when he spoke up to defend a man he had never met, yet knew who was wrongly persecuted, and yet was assured:

“Truly I saw to you, today you shall be with me in paradise.” ~ Luke 23:43

May you be strong enough to survive the persecutions in life as well as the opportunities to stand by and speak up for those who are persecuted.

#speakupforthosewhocannotspeak

#bethechange

#GoodFriday

#beloveandlight

#forgiveness

#WWJD

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