Good Friday is Coming

My former pastor said to me once: “Sunday comes every three days.” It sure feels like that most weeks! Likewise, I have noticed the holidays seem to come every three weeks! I can hardly believe Good Friday and Easter are just a few days away. Wasn’t it just three weeks ago when we celebrated Christmas?

I found myself thinking about Good Friday while reading in Exodus chapters 28-29. This is one of those sections where many who started to read the Bible in a year drop out. Chapter 28 gives a detailed description of the garments worn by the priests. They were very ornate: bells, tassels, precious stones and gold, all of it incorporated into some high quality threads. Chapter 29 is where we find instructions regarding the consecration of the priests which involved sacrificing several animals and getting their garments stained with blood. “[T]ake some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated.” (Exodus 29:21, NIV) Have you ever caught a glimpse of the butcher at the grocery store? It was like that! Aaron the High Priest (and brother of Moses) had blood-red garments, stained with the blood of numerous sacrifices. I can only imagine what those garments smelled like.

             So how did this lead to thoughts about the death of Jesus Christ? The Old Testament sacrificial system was meant to communicate two basic principles: God is holy and we are sinful and need to be cleansed. The perpetual butchering of these animals demonstrated the severity of our sin. Even the High Priest was sinful and had to wear sacred garments covered in blood just to perform sacrifices for God’s people. We live in a day where sin is rarely mentioned in pulpits. I once inquired about a worship leader position at a mainline denominational church in Maryland. I told the Associate pastor the types of songs I use in worship emphasize Christ’s death and our sin forgiven in Christ. The minister mockingly referred to them as ‘bloody Jesus songs’. He was not interested in such silliness and clearly thought I was an idiot because it’s just too archaic for modern people, not to mention it is offensive to call people ‘sinners.’ Offensiveness is a concern God has but of a different kind: he is deeply concerned about how we have offended him! But, because he is good, merciful and loving, he has made it possible for human beings to have those offenses forgiven. God made sure the Israelites saw and smelled the seriousness of sin in every drop of animal blood that was shed on their behalf. “[T]he law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22, NIV)

The emphasis on their sin and need for cleansing was not meant to hopelessly weigh them down under the burden of their sin, but to point them to the last and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ where the burden of sin is lifted forever. The Old Testament priesthood and the sacrifices foreshadowed Christ’s work as High Priest who offered, not the blood of animals, but his own blood which he shed for the forgiveness of sin. But this does not mean sin is now a non-issue we can ignore. The cross itself is a constant reminder of the seriousness of sin and of how humans still offend God today. It still communicates the two basic principles of God’s holiness and our sin and need for cleansing. Upon the cross, God the Father tore Jesus to pieces. He turned his back on his beloved Son who was our substitute. Jesus was a bloody mess! Yet, it was just the tip of the iceberg of judgment and wrath Jesus was enduring on the cross. Mel Gibson didn't even come close! Our sins and guilt were laid upon him and he bore the wrath we deserved. That is what makes Good Friday so Good. I am happy to sing those bloody Jesus songs all the time because it is constant reminder of what Jesus has done for me and how he continues to forgive me every day. Your blood has washed away my sin! Jesus, thank you!