Good Friday

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. (Romans 8:1-3 ESV). The devastating fire that destroyed the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France has shocked the world. However, in what many are calling a miracle, the central cross somehow remained intact. As you can see from the photo, taken by a reporter for Le Monde, the crucifix at the altar of the cathedral stood tall despite the blaze which ravaged the building on Monday. Even though little more than a smoldering pile of what appeared to be the charred remains of the roof and spire lay smoking in front of the altar, the cross glowed from within the gloom. Some of the cathedral's most precious objects, including a relic purported to be the crown of thorns worn by Jesus on the cross, were whisked away to a secure facility. However, the cross was unable to be removed.

As I am writing this on the day after the fire, much news of the event has yet to be released. President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to rebuild the cathedral. In fact, immediately following the news reports, two rival billionaires in France have given $600 million to launch the campaign to rebuild. Having visited there I can say I hope it will be restored to its former glory; however, the glory of the still standing cross cannot be overlooked today. On a day that we call “Good Friday” it is difficult to capture any good from the events of the day. Early that morning Jesus was brought before Annas and Caiaphas (cf. Matthew 26:57-68). Jesus’ trial began afterward. He appears before Pilate, is sent over to Herod, and then back to Pilate where he is sentenced to be crucified (cf. John 18:28-19:16). From there he is savagely scourged and forced to carry his cross, with Simon of Cyrene’s help, to Golgotha. (cf. Matthew 27:27-32). All of this happens before 9 am. By 3 pm, the sky is darkened and Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” With his last breath, he said “It is finished,” and he died (cf. Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34–39; Luke 23:46; John 19:30). He was buried, the tomb sealed, and guards set to watch. They further sealed the grave with a large round stone built to roll like a giant wheel into place, covering the mouth of the tomb. Everyone expected he would remain in that tomb, because that’s what happens with those who are dead and buried. They stay dead and they stay buried. That would have been bad news! The good news was, like the cross of Notre Dame, Jesus was not to be conquered by anything of this world. Sunday morning, he arose! The work of the cross remained, eternally fixed in history. The atonement had been made. It was indeed a finished work. Like Paul we can shout that there is now no condemnation for us who are in Christ. That makes it a GOOD Friday!