A few years ago I spent some time in Spain with a mission organization called YWAM. In preparation for going, some of us learned a play that portrayed the Gospel. There was no speaking; it was all mimed to music. Because I had the longest hair & the bluest eyes I was cast as Jesus. (I hope you see the humor in that). In Spain we performed this play on street corners, at parks and inside churches. One evening we were performing at a Gypsy church. The play was going very well and the people seemed to be responding to what they saw. We then came to a part in the play where Jesus, or me playing Jesus, began to be whipped. This was a very intense section and usually our audiences took on a solemn look during it; but not this night.

As the whipping started to take place, the whole room erupted! People began cheering and shouting and praising God. The room got so loud I could barely hear the music for my cues! The people rejoiced as they watched the suffering of Jesus.

I grew up with Good Friday being a very solemn day. My parents told us to stay inside the house between Noon & 3pm. The services at church that night were very solemn and reflective. I think it’s important to solemnly reflect on Jesus’ suffering & death. He suffered so much for us; we should never forget the pain He bore-both physically & spiritually. In one sense it was the saddest day in history. But in another, it was the most joyous. There’s a breath-taking scene portrayed in Revelation 5. Verses 11-14 says:

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”  Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing. “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

This picture initially seems kind of odd doesn’t it? Jesus, the conqueror of sin & death, being seen as lamb that looked dead. But to the Jewish people, the Messiah being portrayed as a lamb that looked like it was slain had great significance. Not only were lambs the daily sacrifice at the Temple (Exodus 29:38) they were also the sacrifice for the Passover. The Jewish people associated lambs with sacrifice.

We’re currently in the middle of Holy Week with Good Friday just around the corner. Many churches will read from Isaiah 53, which prophesies about Jesus’ suffering & death. Isaiah says that Jesus would be like a lamb in verse 7: “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”  When he first sees Jesus, John the Baptist declares Him to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Paul calls Jesus our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). Peter calls Jesus a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:19). I think God is trying to make a point here! If we are going to see Jesus for who He is, we must see Him as the sacrifice for our sins. This may seem elementary, but it’s the foundation of God’s redemptive love – He did what we couldn’t. He took our punishment so that we could be saved. Salvation is cause for great rejoicing!

I think that’s what was in the congregation’s heart when they cheered at the sight of their Savior being whipped. It wasn’t insensitivity to His suffering; it was appreciation for His work. Jesus will forever be known as our sacrificial lamb. Just as in Revelation 5 all of heaven joyfully worships the “Lamb Who was slain”, I think we too should add some joy to our Good Friday. After all, that’s the day we were redeemed. That’s the day of the greatest act of love the world has ever seen. That’s why Good Friday is good.

I think the cross can be the place where tears of sorrow & tears of joy meet.

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