Confidently Approaching the Throne of Grace By Beth DeCristofaro

Confidently Approaching the Throne of Grace By Beth DeCristofaro

Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

 

…let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

 

Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him, went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.”^* He said to them, “I AM.” Judas his betrayer was also with them. … Jesus answered (Pilate), “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” … When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. (John 18:4-5,37, 19:30)

 

 

Piety

May I seek help, Jesus, from the throne of grace instead of the whims of the world?  Have mercy upon me, a sinner.

 

Study

When I was young, there were times that I did not join in the congregation’s part in the passion story.  When we said “Crucify him,” I did not join in. The readings were so horrifying to me, so unfair, that I wondered why we would want to take part.  Missing the crux of the story made it hard to place me in the crowd, which, I now realize, is a prayerful place to be at the end of a Lenten journey. 

 

John’s Gospel shows Jesus not as a victim but as a contributor in the events, prepared for it by his life of piety, study and action.  Jesus’ entire life, his death and his resurrection were rooted in love for God.  His sacrifice, willingly chosen, was a culmination of his mission to testify to the truth.  We see that Jesus was steadfast in that commitment, but we also see his humanity in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross as he made provisions for his mother.  In the end, in partnership with his father, Jesus willingly handed over the spirit

 

Action

What can the adult understand from these still horrifying images that the child could not?  That Jesus’ dedication to a relationship with God and his mission is challenging, but with God, all things are possible.  That suffering and crosses are part of life; they are not assigned by God to teach us something. We can face them with Jesus’ love knowing that he understands and is with us.  We can realize that love rather than guilt required Jesus to action and can propel us. That as Jesus modeled, turning the other cheek while speaking out for our neighbors is our invitation to confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

On this Good Friday, take time in stillness to imagine myself in the crowd or in a crowd of today.  Can I, in the middle of a surging, shouting crowd – which is like our culture today with its social media and instantaneous communications - give ourselves totally over to God’s will and Jesus’ way? Ask for help from the throne of grace.

 

Illustration:  https://libreshot.com/old-stone-cross-at-night/