Meditating on the Lords Suffering Good Friday, April 22, 2011 NoonDay Service Zion Lutheran Church, Beecher, IL Based on Luthers sermon: How to Contemplate Christs Holy Sufferings What were doing here weve come to meditate on our Lords suffering is a good and noble thing. But it can be done in the wrong way, just as it can be done in the right way. In the wrong way, some reflect upon our Lords sufferings so that they become angry with the particular ones who were there, and who were directly involved that fateful day. Others consider our Lords suffering as a way to avoid their own heartache. So they try hard to imagine the agony that Jesus endured and in the process conjure feelings of empathy. Still others get wrapped up in crying and mourning Christs death because He was so innocent. The cross makes them feel badly, but simply because of what specifically happened to Jesus. They think that if only theyd been there and had seen Jesus suffering or experienced the event this would help them. But, I ask you, what real good does it do you to meditate on the suffering and death of Christ, if you dont consider why He suffered, and dont keep in mind that He died for you? The right way to meditate on our Lords suffering isnt to focus on the goriness of it all nor is it to focus on Christs pain. Rather, the right way to focus and meditate on Christs suffering and death is to know and believe that Christ died for you. For you for you He endured the most severe wrath and full and complete punishment of God toward sin and sinners. You are the sinner and you do the sin. This knowledge and belief that the Son of God suffers because of you and dies the death-penalty that you deserve that my friends should terrify you! For when that happens, you will have realized fully and completely that not the Jews not Judas but you martyred Christ. You and your sins most surely did this horrible, wretched, miserable thing against this innocent Man who hangs upon the cross! So understand this: Where one thorn pierces Christ more than a thousand should pierce you. Did you get that...? Forever and throughout eternity those thousand thorns should even more painfully torment you! And now you know what Bernard of Clairvoux meant when he said: I imagined [that all was well] when I knew nothing of the eternal judgment passed on me in heaven, until I saw that the eternal Son of God had mercy on me, stepped forward and offered Himself on my behalf [to bear] my judgment. And now, it is not right for me still to [live as I please] when such seriousness lies behind those sufferings [of Christ]. To understand Christs suffering the right way, then, means that you better understand yourself. By that I mean not just what you do but also and just as importantly who it is that you are. And then, right behind that, you must also fully understand what Christ did for your benefit to save and deliver you from Gods rightful wrath in spite of who you are and what you do. For, you see, the person who doesnt come to grips with this knowledge and belief about himself and Christ but insists on remaining blind and deaf to the true reason for Jesus suffering and death on the cross for that person our Lords death does no good whatsoever. For, ever so sadly, he has rejected the work of Christ and chosen to rely on his own ability to survive Gods wrath and punishment. That person should tremble and fear. For you cant have it both ways. ü Either Jesus underwent the suffering and death you deserved or He did not. ü Either you and your sins crucified Him or they did not. ü Either His body was given for you and His blood shed for you or they were not. It IS that simple. It IS that concrete. And so, dear Christians, to properly meditate on the suffering of our Lord Christ: PRAY. Pray that the Spirit of Christ would soften your heart and open your ears, so that in mind, body, and soul you would fully understand the real reason Jesus suffered and died. For this work is in Gods hands and it necessarily depends upon His grace and favor toward you. And then, to complete this good work of God within you, be confident. Have full trust and confidence that because of Christs suffering and death, God is gracious and favorable toward you. Believe that He no longer holds your sin against you. Believe that He truly does forgive and love and embrace you in spite of who and what you are! And so, dear Christians, consider and meditate on what Christs suffering won for you ü a conscience free from sin. ü a heart free from fear and the terrors of death. ü a life free to love God and live for Him not to meet demands but to give thanks. That is the good Christs suffering has done for you. That is the benefit Christs suffering gives you. Take it to heart believe it and you have what it is that He so desires to give to you nothing less than eternal life with Him! Dear people of God, ponder once again, Isaiahs prophetic words. Consider them as you meditate on the cross of the Messiah of God come into this world of sin and death in order to redeem it: Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Is. 53:4-6, ESV) On that Day of days on that first Good Friday some 2,000 years ago Jesus cried out with a loud voice and declared across the ages: It is finished! (Jn. 19:30, ESV) The redemption of man was accomplished by God Himself. God in Christ paid a debt He didnt owe, because we owed a debt that we couldnt pay. Thanks be to God! [Amen.]
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