Behold, the Lamb of God: Meditation for Good Friday 2008

It was your sin, and mine, that put him on the Cross. We had no place in the Paradise our first parents were driven from. Guilty, as charged. Doomed. Condemned. Even as the scourge bit deeply into his back, thorns pierced his head, nails tore through his hands and feet, the spear pierced his side, so my sins did the same. And your sins. They put him there. So deeply does sin separate the world from God, that it is only possible through the death of the beloved Son that sins can be, and, thanks be to God, are forgiven. Peace with God once more is made. But what a terrible price! Oh, how terrible.

"Good" indeed, is this Good Friday. He came not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45), and on the cross was the highest service of God, to mankind: His son, sacrificed and given up for the sins of the world, just as had been promised to our first parents (Gen. 3;15). Finally the head of the Evil One was under the foot of the Holy One of Israel. The Suffering Servant was wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our offenses (Is. 53), and by the stripes and blows He endured, we are healed, and we are restored to peace with God. He appeared to offer up the last and final sacrifice, to put away sin, forever (Hebr. 9:26). With repentant joy, we receive the salvation won for us by the atoning sacrifice Christ our Lord offered up for our sins.

As a result of that first good Friday, we have peace with God. His love is poured out into our lives, flowing over us, a deep scarlet rich love, pouring out just as the blood poured forth from the cross. Therefore, there is no grief too deep, no hurt too painful, no sin too horrible, no guilt too enormous, that it is not covered over by the blood of Christ, and swallowed up in His victory over sin, death and devil.

Nothing in all the world can ever separate you from the love of God. Nothing is stronger than the love that holds you. There is no power on earth, no grief, no sickness, no pain, no loss, not hurt, no trouble...nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate you from the love of God which is yours, through Christ Jesus your Lord. Nothing, ever. You are loved by God. Always and forever. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).

And so on this day, when we gather to ponder and meditate on the enormity of our sin, the awful, terrible price exacted for it in the death of our Savior, through tears of repentant joy, we can, and must, and will say again, with the Apostle St. Paul:

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (Gal. 2:20).

Here is Paul Gerhardt's beautiful hymn, A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth.

1. A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth,
The guilt of all men bearing;
And laden with the sins of earth,
None else the burden sharing!
Goes patient on, grows weak and faint,
To slaughter led without complaint,
That spotless life to offer;
Bears shame and stripes,
and wounds and death,
Anguish and mockery and saith,
"Willing all this I suffer."

2. This Lamb is Christ, the soul's great friend,
The Lamb of God, our Savior;
Him God the Father chose to send
To gain for us His favor.
"Go forth, My Son," the Father saith,
"And free men from the fear of death,
From guilt and condemnation.
The wrath and stripes are hard to bear,
But by Thy passion men shall share
The fruit of Thy salvation."

3. "Yea, Father, yea most willingly
I'll bear what Thou commandest;
My will conforms to Thy decree,
I do what Thou demandest."
O wondrous Love, what hast Thou done!
The Father offers up His Son!
The Son, content, descendeth!
O Love, how strong Thou art to save!
Thou beddest Him within the grave
Whose word the mountains rendeth.

4. Thou lay'st Him, Love upon the cross,
With nails and spear Him bruising;
Thou slay'st Him as a lamb, His loss
From soul and body oozing;
From body 'tis the crimson flood
Of precious sacrificial blood,
From soul, the strength of anguish.
My gain it is; sweet Lamb, to Thee
What can I give whose love to me
For me doth make Thee languish?

5. Lord, all my life I'll cleave to Thee,
Thy love fore'er beholding,
Thee ever, as Thou ever me,
With loving arms enfolding.
Yea, Thou shalt be my Beacon-light,
To guide me safe through death's dark night,
And cheer my heart in sorrow;
Henceforth myself and all that's mine
To Thee, my Savior, I consign,
From whom all things I borrow.

6. From morn till eve my theme shall be
Thy mercy's wondrous measure;
To sacrifice myself for Thee
Shall be my aim and pleasure.
My stream of life shall ever be
A current flowing ceaselessly,
Thy constant praise outpouring.
I'll treasure in my memory,
O Lord, all Thou hast done for me,
Thy gracious love adoring.

7. Enlarge my heart's own shrine, and swell,
To thee shall now be given
a treasure that doth far excel
The worth of earth and heaven.
Away with the Arabian gold,
With treasures of an earthly mold!
I've found a better jewel.
My priceless treasure, Lord, my God,
Is Thy most holy, precious blood,
Which flowed from wounds so cruel.

8. This treasure ever I'll employ,
This every aid shall yield me;
In sorrow it shall be my joy,
In conflict it shall shield me;
In joy, the music of my feast,
And when all else has lost its zest,
This manna still shall feed me;
In thirst my drink; in want my food;
My company in solitude,
To comfort and to lead me.

9. Of death I am no more afraid,
New life from Thee is flowing;
Thy cross affords me cooling shade
When noonday's sun is glowing.
When by my grief I am opprest,
On Thee my weary soul shall rest
Serenely as on pillows.
Thou art my Anchor when by woe
My boat is driven to and fro
On trouble's surging billows.

10. And when Thy glory I shall see
And taste Thy kingdom's pleasure,
Thy blood my royal robe shall be,
My joy beyond all measure.
When I appear before Thy throne,
Thy righteousness shall be my crown,
With these I need not hide me.
And there in garments richly wrought
As Thine own bride, I shall be brought
To stand in joy beside Thee.

Comments

[Marc]

There is an excellent version of "Ein Lämmlein geht" at http://bitflow.dyndns.org/german/PaulGerhardt/Ein_Laemmlein_Geht_is.mp3

It makes for very good background music while reading this post and pondering what was done for us on that Good Friday.

Marc

[Rev. Allen Yount]

Beautiful. Just beautiful. Beautiful beyond what my words could ever attempt to describe. Thank you for sharing this post with us, Pastor McCain.

[Susan]

And many thanks to Marc for the link to the music.
Gerhardt never fails, does he? Absolutely beautiful and absolutely priceless.

[Maggie]

Thanks, Pr. McCain. After this rough week of events within the church, it is critical to be continually reminded of the bottom line...who (and whose) we are...in Christ. Blessed Eastertide to you and yours.