This morning I said "it's black Friday". My husband gave me side-eye. I take a lot of meds, so sometimes I mess things up or say the wrong word. It happens more than I care to admit. He usually knows what I mean, but I still get "the look". Anyhow, after we established that it was Good Friday, it got me thinking.
To the early Christians this was indeed a black Friday. The week leading up to today had been a tumultuous one. Jesus started the week, victoriously riding into town to the praise of the townspeople. I can only imagine what it must have been like to be in that crowd. The throngs of people waving palm branches and laying their cloaks on the road before Him. The roar of the crowd as they called out to him, each one hoping to get his attention.
By mid-week they weren't cheering for him anymore. Lies. Riots, Sham trials. A bogus death sentence. All that in a span of 6 days. Humans are fickle. My heart hurts to think of it all. As a mother, I can only imagine the anguish she felt to see her son treated so maliciously. I can see her as she followed behind the crowds, desperately wanting to help him.
As afternoon came on, he had hauled his cross through the town and up that crazy hill. He was exhausted and dehydrated. Every muscle ached. Blood ran down his face, dripping from where they shoved the crown of thorns into his head. His back was shredded from the beating he received. I'm sure the pain was immeasurable. By the time they hoisted that cross into the hole in the ground, he'd gone from media darling to tabloid fodder.
When he breathed his last breath, the world shuddered. I'm sure the disciples thought it was over. Their leader was dead. That was the cold, hard truth. They had watched him die. They knew he was moved to a tomb. Suddenly, they were scared. Confused. Alone. To them, it was a very black Friday. They didn't know that Sunday was coming. They didn't know what a gift had been given to them. The resurrection of Jesus is what made this Friday good.
This Easter weekend, I will reflect on this. Perhaps, I'll watch "The Passion of the Christ". It helps me, sometimes, when I have a visual example to see how Black Friday turned into Good Friday. It makes my heart sing! Down the Via Dollorosa, all the way, to Calvary.
Happy Easter everyone!
*credit: Sandi Patti
