Tag Archives: cross

Holy Saturday

April 19th, 2025 | Dr. Charlie Self

Key Scriptures: Matthew 27:62-66; Luke 23:56

This Sabbath Day is a hush, a pause to catch our breath…and a critical moment of verifying that Jesus was not, “only mostly dead.” Jesus died on Good Friday and was hastily wrapped and placed in a borrowed tomb before the sundown on Friday. Political and religious leaders sealed the tomb and posted a guard, lest the body be stolen.

Why does this day matter? Theologically, we know that Jesus’ work for our salvation was completed on the Cross (“It is finished”). In one sense, the Resurrection could have happened a millisecond after Jesus’ death. But in the plan of God, it was vital that Jesus’ death and sealed tomb be certified by witnesses so that the full power of his eventual triumph over death can be seen in all its glory.

It is important that we not add to God’s Word about our salvation. Some well-meaning Christians believe that after Jesus died, there was some kind of spiritual battle in Hades and Satan had to be defeated and “the keys” snatched from his hand. These speculations arose in the early Medieval times with an addition to the Apostles’ Creed that says, “he descended into hell [hades, the place of the dead].” This is not in the New Testament or any other creed. Ephesians 4:1-11 reminds us the Lord who triumphed over the grave is the same one who descended all the way…in his incarnation in Mary’s womb (see Psalm 139 for the meaning of “depths of the earth”). In I Peter 3, Jesus did not go and preach to the dead – rather, Peter is illustrating how Noah’s pleas with evil people anticipated the gospel.

When Jesus died on Good Friday, his spirit was immediately in Paradise and his body was physically in the tomb. The same is true when a believer dies today. She or he is in God’s presence, while awaiting the final resurrection when Jesus returns in glory (2 Corinthians 5; I Thessalonians 4-5).

As we reflect on this moment of waiting, we are challenged to trust the Lord for his timing in our lives. We are called to cease from our own efforts and enter his rest of faith (Hebrews 2-4). In our busy world, waiting is a particularly challenging discipline.

Good Friday

April 18th, 2025 | Dr. Charlie Self

Key Scriptures: Matthew 27:1-61; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 18:28-19:42

Why is this moment of horrific, undeserved suffering called, “Good Friday” by all Christians? Because even though our Lord is condemned to a Cross, with a weak Roman leader capitulating to the paid-for-mob and jealous religious leaders, our salvation is secured though this deep suffering. Our Lord bears all of humankind’s sins and sorrows, sufferings and sicknesses, unspeakable evils, and unanswered questions as he atones for humankind. “It is finished” indeed! At the very moment darkness appears to win, forgiveness and reconciliation are secured (See Romans 3:21-5:21).

Our Lord’s final mistrial is before Pilate – a poor leader who would prefer to beat Jesus and release him rather that have a martyr on his hands. Pilate knows Jesus is innocent of any capital crime. Pilate is perplexed by this humble Rabbi claiming divine authority, but not questioning Pilate’s civil leadership. Alas, corruption and fear win the day. Pilate refuses to listen to his wife’s concerns arising from her dream. Pilate hands over Jesus to a squad of soldiers for crucifixion.

In addition to an unmerciful beating and the taunts of the soldiers, Jesus must carry the cross beam to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, where criminals die a lingering death. Jesus is so physically weak that Simon of Cyrene (located in North Africa) is plucked from the crowd to carry the beam, leaving his two sons among the watchers. Though weak, Jesus finds time to comfort weeping women on his bloodstained pathway.

Jesus is on the Cross from 9 AM to 3 PM, with the final three hours full of unspeakable suffering. For the first time in all eternity, fellowship with the Father is broken (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) as Jesus bears our sins. He is suffering between two criminals. One curses; the other humbly pleas for mercy. Jesus promises the humble thief that they will enjoy God’s presence together in just a few hours, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” While on the Cross, Jesus forgives his tormentors, makes provision for his mother, refuses drugged wine, accepts a drink of water, and, at the very end, declares, “It is finished!” and “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

As Jesus utters his final words, the veil into the Holy of Holies is torn in the Temple, symbolizing access for all who believe and a New Covenant. “It is finished!” means all sins are covered, for in this one sacrifice, God’s love and justice are fulfilled and all who believe are forgiven and granted favor (Roman 5:1-11; Hebrews 7-10).

Jesus is hastily buried in a borrowed tomb as the Sabbath approaches. The tomb is sealed and guarded and Jesus’ followers scatter, wondering what the future may hold.

What does the Lord ask of us as we consider all this? He calls us to believe, turn from our selfishness and sins, and humbly say thank you with obedience to his commands – summed up in the command to love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 4:1-6). Just as Jesus submitted to a pathway of service for us, will we reframe our lives for God’s glory and the good of others?

Holy Tuesday

April 15th, 2025 | Dr. Charlie Self

Key Scripture: John 12:20-50

In John’s Gospel, chapter 12 marks the final moments of Jesus’ public ministry before he retreats with the disciples to the Upper Room and spends several chapters ministering to “his own” (John 13:1-6). Some believe that the early moments of John 13 may have occurred on Tuesday evening, though others place John 13-17 on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Beginning with verse 20, Jesus responds to some Greek inquirers and offers a brilliant summary of his true glory – his “lifting up” on the Cross and the healing that will flow from this moment (John 12:20-33). There is a deep sadness on this day as John reminds us that rejection of Jesus was prophesied hundreds of years ago (John 12:34-41). In spite of much opposition, there were some timid believers that kept their faith quiet and the writer is clear this is not honoring to God (12:42-43).

John 12:44-49 represents a final plea of Jesus – and therefore the author as well (John wrote his Gospel and Epistles toward the end of his long life, near the end of the first century) for all to believe and come into the true light (see John 1:1-18) of spiritual rebirth and eternal life.

John recorded these words of Jesus to encourage us as we face many pressures to doubt and be afraid (especially in these deeply divided times). We are also encouraged toward boldness, not covering up our love for the Lord and his invitation for all who believe. Will we take time and share about the Lord with someone this week? Will we trust God even in hard circumstances? The Lord is with us and he will honor us as we honor him.

And, taking a peek at John 13, will we respond to Jesus’ love on the Cross and live under Christ’s “new” command to “love one another, as I have loved you”?

A 2025 Lenten Message: A Time for Thinking Deeply and Acting Decisively

March 7th, 2025 | Dr. Charlie Self

Lent is about reflection and sacrifice, pondering Jesus’ pathway to the Cross, and our submission to God’s will. In many Christian traditions, there are specific calls for fasting and diet restrictions, extra times of prayer, and works of charity. All of these matter and I commend all believers as they respond to their understanding the Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit. In this essay, I will share some fresh Lenten thoughts regarding our response to current cultural, pollical, and spiritual issues. Personally, I am not offering extensive commentaries of USA politics until after Trinity Sunday, the true end of the Eastertide cycle on the church calendar. I sense (for me) that I need to allow more time to pass before commenting, as so much of what we see is “the art of the deal” and will find its center in the months ahead. I am pleased and displeased with current initiatives and will offer historical and prospective thoughts in the future.

Here are three Lenten disciplines for consideration and we prayerfully engage our world. The first one is a commitment to intercession and reflection before reaction. Apart from obvious joyful or tragic moments, our communication and decisions will always be better after a pause. This pause should include genuine prayer for the people we disagree with most. When the Bible commands prayer for those in authority it does not qualify that we must agree; in fact such calls for intercession came in the midst of severe persecutions. After asking God for compassion and wisdom, we can share our insights – with a view to creating courageous and civil conversations.

A second discipline flows from the first: we must commit to a policy of no personal insults of persons or groups. Critical thinking on issues is a must, but a judgmental spirit hinders progress of God’s kingdom. This is really hard, especially when there are truly awful and even evil actions and attitudes we face. The exception here is for groups dedicated to hatred and terror. Even then, we should pray for mercy on the individuals while standing firmly against their genocidal aims. This is particularly true of groups dedicated to the destruction of Israel and Jews, as well as those killing Christians and other religious minorities in accordance with their demonic principles.

The third Lenten discipline is the pursuit of wisdom as we face so many challenges. The messages of Proverbs 1-9 and the testimony of prophets and apostles are encouraging: we can gain wisdom, so our dispositions and decisions are discreet and fruitful. Biblical wisdom rooted in reverence before God is concrete, moral, and relational. We do not need wisdom for clear biblical teaching on doctrine and ethics. We do need wisdom for how we navigate the pluralism of our age and call our neighbors to repentance and faith. We do need wisdom for prudential pathways forward for neighborhoods and nations. People of conscience must debate how best we steward resources. May we do so with civility and compassion.

My prayer is that all believers and other people of conscience will aim for flourishing rooted in sound first principles and mutual regard for the dignity of every person.

May Lent 2025 be a moment of great progress in faith, hope, and love for all.

Our Stories Are Not Finished Yet

March 24th, 2021 | Dr. Charlie Self

The Lenten Season is a period of self-reflection and sacrifice as followers of Christ ponder the obedience of Jesus that led to a Cross and Resurrection, bringing hope and reconciling grace to our weary world. The story of Jesus includes his humble beginnings. It features family life in an artisan’s home. There is a Bar Mitzvah that astounded some learned religious leaders. And then there were quiet years running a business until his early 30s. If the narrative stopped here, it would have been one more story of an anonymous Jewish family in the early first century.

But the full story continues as Jesus begins his public ministry. For more than three years this Rabbi delivers and heals, forgives and reconciles, teaches and demonstrates the love, grace, and truth of God’s kingdom. For his trouble, Jesus is betrayed, arrested, subject to multiple (mis)trials, scourged, crucified, and buried in a borrowed tomb with a 24-hour Roman guard. If the story had ended here, Jesus would have been one more zealous Rabbi and wonder-worker and perhaps classified as a good teacher by some and a pernicious influence by others. (Oh wait…isn’t that how many still see him?)

But the story is only complete on Easter morning as the Lord is raised from the dead in a transformed body still bearing the scars of his atoning death while revealing the ultimate future of all who believe. Easter is not only a promise of eternity, it is a present reality as followers of Jesus receive the Holy Spirit and walk in his pathway of love and humility, offering the same deliverance and healing, forgiveness and reconciliation to all.

And Easter means that all of OUR stories are still being written. Starting right now, our future can be different as we listen more deeply to our Lord, align our hearts and minds with his commands, and join Jesus in his mission. Yes, we may bear the consequences and scars of previous traumas or our own sins. No, we cannot be “anything” we imagine – that is nonsense. But starting today, we can become the best version of the person God created us to be and start doing the good works he designed in advance for us to do. We were created to enjoy God’s presence and fulfill his purpose. As we worship and work, and allow the Lord to refine our character and define our charisms, a better future opens to us – and to the world.

Our stories are not finished until our mortal journeys have ended. And even then, they continue in a new creation. Be encouraged today! Jettison the fatalism and the fantasies, and embrace the Cross. In humility and service, we discover our purpose and find great strength.