Completely misread this as meaning J= Jon, but now realise J = Jesus in all likelihood, silly Ellie
Good Friday is such a beautiful day to me, does that sound strange? Jesus’ grace on the cross, to the thief, to the soldiers, to the crowd, and to us is so incredible. Love risking everything, love giving everything, love being fully realised.
Comment by theseoldshades — April 10, 2009 @ 12:08 am
Can anyone tell me why all the Good Friday stuff at church is so sombre?
I was present a few years ago when Friend1 invited a mutual Christian Friend2 to a BBQ/party on Good Friday; F2 made a point of saying how offended he was that his feelings hadn’t been considered and of course he wouldn’t be going to a party. I rather facetiously said “I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but I’ve read ahead and there’s a happy ending!”
And so I wish everyone a Happy Good Friday, as opposed to a sad one.
JF – yes of course we know there is a happy ending but part of Good Friday is about being able to live in the moment of grief. It’s a rememberance that for a while the Father turns his face. In that moment there is an experience of utter seperation. The service that i have planned for tonight will be ’sombre’ because it’s is a rememberance of hurt and a facing of fears. it’s a time to realise again that in the moment of the cross the world is changed and things will never be the same again. If we are to meet Christ in that moment we too will be changed and must face the challenges that will bring. For today there is no hope there is only loss.
If you’re going to have a very sad Good Friday though you need to have one awesome party on Sunday!
Here’s a follow up idea, based on “he descended into hell.” On Easter Sunday:-
A disciple:- Jesus you look like you’ve been to hell and back.”
Jesus: “Well actually I have!”
jf… it’s for the same reason as remembrance day has a sombre tone. there is, for me, a deep sorrow mixed with a profound cathartic sense of peace at weeping to the sound of ‘nimrod’. strangely, maybe perversely, both good friday and remembrance day are two of my favourite days in the calendar. they allow me the freedom of sorrow. it’s a yearly ritual that helps keep me grounded in my faith.
point taken though… for the christian, there is a happy ending. i never understood why christmas was given so much more weight than easter in the western church calendar… it certainly isn’t the case in the eastern orthodox church. i believe they have it right.
dennis – you too. I was reading some poetry by Elizabeth Jennings yesterday and these closing lines from a piece simply called ‘A Sonnet’ reminded me of something you said; and they also seem to be very apt for this day….so:
I must live through all this and with no home
But what he was,keep holding onto breath.
Once the stars shone within a sky I knew.
Now only darkness is my sky, my view.
Jon – have you ever been to a tenebrae service? I think you would appreciate it. Some peeps put one on at our place a couple years back and it was a pretty profound experience. I think genuine community acknowledges the whole of life, including grief, darkness, despair. If we allow ourselves to identify with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane last night, we can identify with Him more authentically and completely outside the Garden tomb on Sunday, and on the Road to Emmaus next week. And that’s the thing about Jesus – if you’re in Gethsemane, so’s He. And if you’re bursting with new life, He’s with you on that. Jesus can meet us where we’re at, cos He’s been there already. That’s good to know.
This one is my fave, Jon. Deffo in the book. Last page maybe?
Completely misread this as meaning J= Jon, but now realise J = Jesus in all likelihood, silly Ellie
Good Friday is such a beautiful day to me, does that sound strange? Jesus’ grace on the cross, to the thief, to the soldiers, to the crowd, and to us is so incredible. Love risking everything, love giving everything, love being fully realised.
Comment by theseoldshades — April 10, 2009 @ 12:08 am
Thanks be to God.
Comment by Linda — April 10, 2009 @ 2:03 am
[...] [via ASBO Jesus] [...]
Pingback by Nur drei Tage weg | Jugend der Immanuelgemeinde Wolfsburg — April 10, 2009 @ 6:54 am
Gone but not forgotten
Comment by marcus — April 10, 2009 @ 7:19 am
That reminds me of this:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/lol%20jesus/siatica/lol-jesus-brb.jpg
Comment by Aideen — April 10, 2009 @ 8:27 am
Can anyone tell me why all the Good Friday stuff at church is so sombre?
I was present a few years ago when Friend1 invited a mutual Christian Friend2 to a BBQ/party on Good Friday; F2 made a point of saying how offended he was that his feelings hadn’t been considered and of course he wouldn’t be going to a party. I rather facetiously said “I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but I’ve read ahead and there’s a happy ending!”
And so I wish everyone a Happy Good Friday, as opposed to a sad one.
Comment by JF — April 10, 2009 @ 8:34 am
JF – yes of course we know there is a happy ending but part of Good Friday is about being able to live in the moment of grief. It’s a rememberance that for a while the Father turns his face. In that moment there is an experience of utter seperation. The service that i have planned for tonight will be ’sombre’ because it’s is a rememberance of hurt and a facing of fears. it’s a time to realise again that in the moment of the cross the world is changed and things will never be the same again. If we are to meet Christ in that moment we too will be changed and must face the challenges that will bring. For today there is no hope there is only loss.
If you’re going to have a very sad Good Friday though you need to have one awesome party on Sunday!
Comment by duttyo — April 10, 2009 @ 9:00 am
Here’s a follow up idea, based on “he descended into hell.” On Easter Sunday:-
A disciple:- Jesus you look like you’ve been to hell and back.”
Jesus: “Well actually I have!”
Comment by rockingrev — April 10, 2009 @ 9:34 am
[...] Geklaut von ASBO Jesus [...]
Pingback by at Knaben der Revolution — April 10, 2009 @ 9:39 am
Thank you, Jesus. I love you.
Comment by Linus — April 10, 2009 @ 10:27 am
Ditto Linus!!!
Comment by HisGal — April 10, 2009 @ 10:45 am
JF – We are really bad at dealing with the here and now. Today is a really difficult day. It is sombre. They crucified my Lord.
Yes he rose on Sunday – but on Friday he was brutally tortured to death.
There is a party and it starts when the corks pop of the champagne at 4AM Sunday morning.
Yesterday we remembered how the disciples fell asleep and then fled. Today we remember the crucifixion.
Sunday – party on dudes!!
Comment by Robb — April 10, 2009 @ 10:48 am
jf… it’s for the same reason as remembrance day has a sombre tone. there is, for me, a deep sorrow mixed with a profound cathartic sense of peace at weeping to the sound of ‘nimrod’. strangely, maybe perversely, both good friday and remembrance day are two of my favourite days in the calendar. they allow me the freedom of sorrow. it’s a yearly ritual that helps keep me grounded in my faith.
point taken though… for the christian, there is a happy ending. i never understood why christmas was given so much more weight than easter in the western church calendar… it certainly isn’t the case in the eastern orthodox church. i believe they have it right.
Comment by jonbirch — April 10, 2009 @ 11:03 am
‘i never understood why christmas was given so much more weight than easter in the western church calendar…’
i totally agree with that!
Comment by Teus — April 10, 2009 @ 11:53 am
i find most of my weight at Christmas!!
Comment by marcus — April 10, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
theseoldshades… just read your comment at the top. no, it doesn’t seem strange to me at all. it is the best of points well made.
Comment by jonbirch — April 10, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
have a good three days. love.
Comment by dennis — April 10, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
dennis – you too. I was reading some poetry by Elizabeth Jennings yesterday and these closing lines from a piece simply called ‘A Sonnet’ reminded me of something you said; and they also seem to be very apt for this day….so:
Take care.
Comment by Pat — April 10, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
Jon – have you ever been to a tenebrae service? I think you would appreciate it. Some peeps put one on at our place a couple years back and it was a pretty profound experience. I think genuine community acknowledges the whole of life, including grief, darkness, despair. If we allow ourselves to identify with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane last night, we can identify with Him more authentically and completely outside the Garden tomb on Sunday, and on the Road to Emmaus next week. And that’s the thing about Jesus – if you’re in Gethsemane, so’s He. And if you’re bursting with new life, He’s with you on that. Jesus can meet us where we’re at, cos He’s been there already. That’s good to know.
This one is my fave, Jon. Deffo in the book. Last page maybe?
Comment by linus — April 10, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
I’d like to share my experience if you will… please indulge me.
I’m the evangelical in the room at all services in my community.
Today was the most beautiful experience I’ve had. Finally I begin to understand the crucifixion!
Monks of an Anglo-Catholic persuasion did that to me. It was amazing!
[Additional complaint! If you are going to make me sit in church for 3 hrs - pews suck!!]
Comment by Robb — April 11, 2009 @ 12:40 am
The guardian has just informed me of why Jesus undertook this for us.
And Pilate asked him, “are you king of the Robbs”. Jesus replied “you say that I am”.
And the Robbs shouted “Crucify him! Crucify him!!”.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
Comment by Robb — April 11, 2009 @ 3:23 pm
Haven’t seen this put quite this way before, but, yeah, exactly what happened!!!
or,
“Gone Fishing – for men” (and you gals too, of course
Comment by Forrest — April 11, 2009 @ 6:28 pm
[...] ht: AsboJesus [...]
Pingback by Gone at Pastor Sandy in the boonies — April 11, 2009 @ 6:52 pm
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Pingback by Abwesenheitsnachricht at einAugenblick.de — April 11, 2009 @ 9:59 pm
poignant, robb.
Comment by jonbirch — April 11, 2009 @ 11:47 pm
That was then and this is now…….. now I have to go to see the dawn……… and my alarm is set for 2.5 hrs.
I’m not!!
Comment by Robb — April 11, 2009 @ 11:54 pm