The attitude of Disciples on Good Friday
Introduction to Good Friday Devotions:
Almost all Christians all over the globe observe Good Friday. No one would call the death of a person a good thing. But this Friday became Good Friday because the death of Christ has changed many things in life history. This Friday Changed the destiny of millions and millions of people. This Friday has overturned the political equations, Philosophical arguments, and theological expressions of people.
Usually, many Churches remember the Seven Words of Jesus Christ on the cross and its importance on Good Friday. He uttered the importance of forgiveness even before someone asks from us (Luke 23:34). Jesus has given hope and courage to the robbers to face death while he was going through the suffering (Luke 23:43).
He never left anyone as an Orphan. Jesus brought the new relationship to one another in Christ as Mother-Son, Brother-sister, Father- Son, daughter relationships (John 19:26-27). The terror of the Sin, vicarious death upon the cross, bearing the sins of the whole world made him cry aloud to God as forsaken son (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).
His open statement of his thirst reflects his integrity in acknowledging the need for a person (John 19:28). He boldly declared at death that he had fulfilled all the commission given to him (John 19:30). He ended his life acknowledging the Ownership of God upon his soul, spirit, and Body (Luke 23:46).
But today, we are going to mediate the attitude of the Disciples on this Good Friday. That means character, integrity, stewardship, accountability, responsibility, and commitment of the disciples. Many life values and moral values looked from the lives of Disciples who reflect ourselves on many occasions. However, due to lack of time and observing capacity, we would think of five aspects.
1. Their fight for Power Equations (Luke 22:14-29),
2. Their profit of Cash for conspiracy (Matthew 26:1-5,1-16,47-50),
3. Running away at critical stages and situations (Mark 14:31, 50-51),
4. Dared to deny the savior, God, Bible, and truths for the sake of personal interest (Luke 22:54-62).
5. However, we will fail to do justice to the topic if we fail to acknowledge the silent, sincere and devoted Disciples of Christ (John 19:31-42).
1. Fight for Power (Luke 22:14-29).
The fight for power was found among the twelve. All were equal but everyone wanted to dominate one another.
The fight for power, popularity, and higher rank is an age-old issue from time immemorial men fight for it. Power struggle means the struggle to control(Merriam-Webster), an unpleasant or violent competition for power (Cambridge Dictionary), two or more people compete for influence (Collins dictionary). Struggle to show authority over one another.
Margaret Thatcher once said, “Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you are not.” Those who feel powerless act in a demanding, overwhelming, power-driven way to compensate for their perceived powerlessness. (ref:psychologytoday.com)
Illustration: In see-saw play: If both partners understand their power or are empowered, stay relatively level and balanced. If one person has brought a feeling of self. He or she may try to compensate by bearing down on the see-saw, shifting his or her weight, and perpetually uprooting, destabilizing, ungrounding his or her partner on the other side.
The first family saw this issue in the form of whose sacrifice was great (Genesis 4:3-5). The fight among brothers between Jacob and Esau was another example of a power struggle within the family (Genesis 24:24-26). The brothers were indignant on Joseph about the Prime Ministership of a Nation (Genesis 37:5-11). Aaron, Miriam fought with Moses over the leadership (Numbers 12:1-2).
There was a war between the house of Saul and David increased and ended up in enmity and erasing one another (2 Samuel 3:1-2). Among the captains of David (2 Samuel 3:26-28). The power struggle between the sons of David is not exceptional (1 Kings 1 &2). The New Testament has issues between the disciples in Infront of Jesus Christ. They fought very often.
The win-win situation and cooperation and collaboration play an important role. Treating all equally and giving due respect for the potentiality found in others are appreciable. Team players are appreciated. No individual identity in the commonwealth of the team but with unique personal identity. Concept of “we” overplays the word “I”. However, self-respect and individual accountability never miss in this context.
2. Cash for conspiracy (Matthew 26:1-5,1-16,47-50).
Judas Iscariot had intention to earn money out of any thing in life. He had given place and along with high level religious group to betray Christ.
Bible records on people selling their conviction, character for the sake of gain or to please leaders in all contexts (1 Kings 21:11-14). Money sows mistrust, ends friendships, encourages to lie and cheat. Karl Marx says, ‘‘Money then appears as the enemy of man and social bonds that pretend to self-subsistence.’’ “The universal regard for money is the one hopeful fact in our civilization. Money is the most important thing in the world. It represents health, strength, honor, generosity, and beauty” said, George Bernard Shaw(ref:schoolworkhelper.net).
Researchers in organizational behavior from Harvard University and the University of Utah suggest ‘the simple idea of money changes the way we think – weakening every other social bond’(ref: economix.blogs.nytimes.com).
Our actions weighed with moral values. However, monetary incentives can get in the way of our good intentions. Neuroeconomics at the University of Zurich investigated and found that brain conflicts between moral and material motives. "If we don't let the brain deliberate on conflicting moral and monetary values, people are more likely to stick to their moral convictions and are not swayed, even by high financial incentives," explains Christian Ruff (ref: ScienceDaily. com).
Regarding people making ethical compromises in their decision-making, sacrificing moral values for monetary or social status gains. Research suggests that women may place more weight than men on ethical values and be less willing to rationalize unethical behavior (ref: gap.hks.harvard.edu).
Everyone has a moral compass and a set of standards that they live by it. Morals developed out of personal values, and these values are the foundation for an ability to discern between right and wrong, and it builds and governs the behavior. Faithful to the life partner, being a loyal employee, loving and respecting family members are few examples (ref:futureofworking.com). A person without any moral values has no real direction in his or her life. Generally speaking, a moral value system consists of honesty, compassion, courage, modesty, and forgiveness, and on top of all this, a person has a love for the truth and will fight for the truth at all times (ref: futureofworking.com).
3. Ran away from Cross - (Mark 14:31, 50-51).
All ran away from Jesus to save their life except John and Peter. Even these two could not stand with him.
The resignation takes place at various stages for a variety of reasons. Some do it for the non-compromising stand. Some do it to escape from the situations they face in their life. The fear of death, fear of prosecution, fear of persecution leads to resignations from following Christ. Disciples who were with Christ have decided to withdraw from him, knowing that he could not save himself. They had a fix whether to continue with this leader who has no prospective prosperous future or to shift to a leader who could build a Kingdom against the existing Kingdoms. They ran away to escape from the crucifixion.
4. Dared to Deny (Luke 22:54-62, John 18:15-27).
Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John record denial of Peter. They record prediction of denial and the shameful act of denial (Matthew 26:31-35, 58, 69-75, Mark 14:27-31, 54, 66-72, Luke 22:31-34, 54-62, John 13:36-38, 18:15-18, 25-27).
The Denial act was closely knit with the trials of Jesus. There were two kinds of trials Jesus had to undergo: The Ecclesiastical (Jewish) trial and the Civil (Roman) trial. The ecclesiastical trial had hearings before Annas (John 18:13), Caiaphas (John 18:24), and the Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66). The civil trial involved hearings before Pilate (Luke 23:1-5), Herod (Luke 23:6-12), and a second hearing before Pilate (Luke 23: 13-25).
Peter speaking from his usual impetuous and impulsive nature made his promise that he would not deny Jesus. But when the occasion had come Peter denied, “I don't know what you are talking about, I even don’t know him.” Peter followed Jesus but could not stand for justice because of the fear of death and desire for life. We deny Jesus on occasions, “When we consent to a dishonest business deal,
When we fail to stand for what is right and good, and When an opportunity to discuss a religious and moral issue comes up, and we say nothing.”(ref: biblehelpsinc.org).
Denial possible when we meted with injustice. Denial comes when a person known to us does something shameful act. Parents disown their children if they commit crimes and if they bring disgrace to the family. David disowned persons who are not of his standard. Paul disowned few Christians who were not to the expectations of Paul.
But, Peter denied Jesus out of his weakness and fear of death. But when we hold our commitment and grow in the faith and loyalty through praying together, striving together, singing together, working together, and worshipping together with zealous fellow Christian that give us new courage to stand for Jesus even amid a crooked and perverse generation.
5. Silent, but Sincere Disciples (John 19:31-42).
Church on many occasions has not recognized people who are silent contributors, and who do the sacrificial ministry without recognition. The salvation of Christ belongs to a believing sinner. He is justified, forgiven, and receives eternal life. His faith is accounted for righteousness. Confession may or may not follow, but salvation is his upon the single act of faith.
Four Gospel writers mention Joseph of Arimathea in the four Gospels (Matthew 27:57-60, Mark 15:42-46, Luke 23:50-55, and John 19:38-42). He was a rich man, a good and just man, and also awaited the kingdom of God. He was a member of the Sanhedrin. He had become a disciple of Jesus, but he was hiding for fear of the Jews. He had not consented to the counsel and the actions of the Sanhedrin regarding Jesus. Nicodemus was described every time in John as the one "who came to Jesus by night" (John 19:38-39). Many others followed Jesus Secretly (John 12:42).
Until this time, Joseph and Nicodemus had hidden their love for Jesus. But now, they would manifest it to all those present. But Joseph bought a cloth of fine linen and went over to the Golgotha accompanied by Nicodemus (a Pharisee who was one of the chiefs of the Jews and had previously come to see Jesus at night - John 3:1-21) who had brought with him about a hundred pounds of a mixture of myrrh and aloes. In this, we see the high opinion they held of the Lord Jesus by providing the best they could acquire for His body at the grave.
Joseph of Arimathea acted at the right time with conviction and courage: he left his hiding place to do justice, not measuring the risk that he ran, and in this way, he stood out among all men to honor the Messiah of God. An apocryphal Gospel of Peter reports on him. He had gone to Great Britain in 63 AD, interested in taking the Gospel to metal exporters he was acquainted with, spending some time in the south of England, later traveling to Ireland, doing miracles. He was named the patron saint of the city of Glastonbury, in the south of England (ref: bible-facts.info/articles/josephofarimathea). Of course, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were venerated as Saints in Catholicism and some protestants.
Conclusion:
Dear readers of this message, think about where you are and how do you follow Christ. Can Christ count you as a trustworthy follower of him? The measure of your love could be valued, weighed when you are in trouble or how you react to the troubling circumstances of the dear ones in your life. I wish and pray that this Good Friday would bring you very closely to Jesus Christ.
