Good Friday [c] Is 52:13-53:12; Heb 4:14-16, 5:7-9; Jn 18:1-19:42
 
Peter looked our one day from heaven and saw Judas coming towards him.  Judas was carrying a small wooden box in his hand.  Peter called out and said, “Judas, where are you going to?” “I am coming to see you”, replied Judas.  Peter said, Judas, you know you are a traitor and betrayer; you sold our master and had him crucified.  What is it you carrying in your hand?  “Come and see”, Judas said.  Peter drew near and Judas opened the wooden box and there was a cock.  Peter asked Judas, “What is this? Judas replied, “Peter, have you forgotten?” At this time the cock in the box crowed, Peter became quiet and Judas said to him: “Can you now remember?” You too are not a good man.  I betrayed our master but you denied him.
The Summary message of Good Friday is that Jesus was condemned, crucified, bled and died.  But behind these scenarios lie what gave him the greatest agony, namely, the denial by those he taught and healed and the deliberate denial and betrayal by Judas and Peter his disciples.  Imagine what Jesus was feeling when Judas walked out that door and darkness fell.  Imagine how he felt, when he looked to Peter to stay by him, and in spite of his earlier promise to do so, declined and denied him.  What a suffering? 
The book of Genesis attributes suffering to sin.  The first man and woman God created lost the happiness. God had intended for them because of their disobedience to God.  The whole first part of the Old Testament, Deuteronomy, Judges, Samuel and Kings and many of the prophets reflects this notion of suffering – that is caused by disobedience to God.  There is some truth in that notion, but it is not the whole story as the Book of Job took issue with the old theology on suffering.  Sometime about 500 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah gave us a new way of thinking about suffering that it can have a positive purpose – that one person’s suffering can bring blessings to another.  We heard it clearly expressed in today’s first reading from a passage in Isaiah known as the 4th Servant Song.  Parents make sacrifices for their children, how they have to go through sacrifices for their children, how they love and teach them and discipline them.  “If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the Lord shall be accomplished through him.”
The sufferings of Jesus, however, were a scandal to his followers.  The Messiah was not expected to suffer.  We remember when Jesus tried to warn his disciples that he would “suffer greatly and be killed and would rise again.”  Peter replied, “Heaven forbid, Lord, this will never happen to you.”  Jesus response to Peter is familiar to all of us: “Get behind me, Satan.”
Practical applications: Give comfort and prefer suffering for ourselves.  Like people and prefer to get even dislike.  Grant acceptance and accept rejection by us.  Give love and ready to accept hate.  Give peace and be ready to accept hatred.  And be belonging to Him.
Introduction: Good Friday
Message: Entrusting his life to the Father, Jesus bore our infirmities and obedient unto death, won for us eternal salvation.[today, paschal fast is observed everywhere to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus]