The Triumph of the Cross

Rebecca Sheridan
Friday, April 7, 2023
John 18:1-19:42

    Why do we call this day “good” Friday?  Death, especially a violent death on a cross, a public execution, is not usually associated with the word, “good.”  Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection is described in all four gospels.  His death and resurrection are essential to what we believe as Christians -- without that part of the story we would not be here.  But each gospel writer describes why this Friday is “good” a little differently, even when the cross looks like bad news on the surface.  If you were paying attention on Sunday when we heard Matthew’s account of Jesus suffering and death, you’ve probably noticed several differences in John’s account tonight.  John usually tells things a little differently – he marches to the beat of his own drummer, if you will.  
What’s most important for John to tell us is that in Jesus’ death and resurrection we see the glory of God revealed to us most fully.  The last half of John’s gospel is called, “The Book of Glory,” in fact.   And in the early Christian Church, in the spirit of John’s gospel, today was not only called “Good Friday” but “The Triumph of the Cross.”  Certainly, John does not want us to despair at Jesus’ death on the cross, but to see it as a moment when God’s glory is fully revealed to us, for our salvation.  The cross is Jesus’ triumph over sin, death and the devil. It is God’s plan of salvation accomplished as Jesus says in his final breath, “It is finished.”  God accomplishes everything we need and more on the cross on this Good Friday.  God has triumphed!
    It’s not immediately obvious even in John’s account, though, that Jesus’ death on the cross is good.  You have to look for it with eyes of faith.  Notice, again, when the guards come looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus responds, “I am he.”  For faithful Jews, Jesus is telling them he is the great I AM – God himself.  The soldiers step back and fall to the ground in astonishment. As Pilate wonders, “What is truth?”  Jesus says confidently, “For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”  Jesus knows the truth and IS the truth.  The soldiers mock Jesus and put a crown of thorns and purple robe on his head.  The religious authorities break the first commandment and say that they have no king but the emperor, but Jesus says, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above.”  Jesus knows his power, glory, and triumph come from God.  He carries his cross by himself – he is in control.  And Joseph of Arimathea as well as Nicodemus bury Jesus with enough spices fit for a royal burial.  We see in these details that Jesus does not simply call himself the king of the Jews, but IS the king of glory who has triumphed over all, as even Pilate partly recognizes when he says, “what I have written I have written.”  Notice that Jesus prays in a garden and is buried in a garden.  He will be raised in a garden.  What appears to the world as death and defeat springs to new life in just a few short days on Easter Sunday.  Life, not death, will have the final word.
    The challenge for us on this Good Friday, this Triumph of the Cross day, is to look at the crown of thorns, the nails in his hands and feet, his pierced side, and believe that this is how God saves us; this is how God is glorified, this is Christ’s victory.  We ask God for new eyes to see as Jesus sees, so that we might have confidence and hope in the cross of our Lord.  Easter is coming, Christ has triumphed, thanks be to God!  Amen.