Don’t Rush Past the Cross
You’ve probably seen the meme already. It is some variation of “It’s (Good) Friday… but (Easter) Sunday’s coming!” I get the purpose of it, too. It’s to bring a point of hope or expectation to the darkest most somber day of the Christian calendar. “Christ died… but He’s coming back on Sunday!” The saying means well; I acknowledge that. I just don’t agree that it is necessarily helpful.
WE KNOW what Easter Sunday is about. The tomb is empty. Jesus is strolling around outside of it with His stigmata and no one can recognize Him unless He chooses. We’re going to read/discuss some variation of that story where Jesus was dead, but now He is risen. Then we can sing all the “Glory to God in the Highest”s and shout the A (or H) word to the rafters that we put aside during Lent. (We DID put them aside… right?) Easter is the spectacular climax of the entire Bible and SHOULD be celebrated with all the glory, honor, and praise.
To attach it as a disclaimer – as if to say “I know (Good) Friday is painful, but (Easter) Sunday makes it all worth it – does a great disservice to both days.
Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday means what it means BECAUSE of Good Friday. There is no Resurrection without Death. There is no Risen Christ without Christ Crucified. Easter Sunday – with all its rightful pomp and celebration – is not where Jesus got His Crown. Easter Sunday is not when He was glorified. It was Good Friday, when He said “Father, into Your hands, I commend My Spirit.” It was when He surrendered His earthly life to the Father.
Good Friday does not need a disclaimer. We should not have to look beyond Good Friday to appreciate it. Holy Week itself is narrative that is part of an even greater narrative of the Liturgical year. Yes, it is painful. Yes, it is Jesus at His lowest and most grieved. Yes, it shows Humanity at its worst, rejecting and despising and torturing the very One who came to restore it. Good Friday is a mirror to those parts of us that shame us and all too often go unacknowledged. It HURTS to see ourselves acting against God. It hurts ESPECIALLY to consider that we often act against God EVEN TODAY.
And yet in that moment of virulent rage, contempt, and hatred from those He loved, Jesus stood resolved. He stayed true. Jesus didn’t summon wine to drink out of air. He didn’t call down an Army of Angels to pull Him free from the Cross and smite those who crucified Him. He didn’t back down from His mission and bow to worldly authorities to secure His own worldly power. Jesus surrendered His life.
There is nothing wrong with pausing at the foot of the Cross and taking in this moment in all of its brutality, pain, affliction, and resolution. The negative emotions – sadness, anger, confusion, the gaping chasm, the WHOLE bit – are also part of the experience.
Before Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, He walked to Bethany knowing Lazarus was already dead. He knew the Martha and Mary were both furious with Him and would confront Him. He knew how Lazarus would respond once He called Him out, but before He did… Jesus still stopped outside of the tomb and wept for him.
You’re allowed to mourn Jesus. You’re allowed to feel the pain. You’re allowed to feel helpless. You’re allowed sit in that emptiness as everything is ripped away before your eyes. You’re allowed to sit in the pile of ashes with Job.
You’re allowed to weep for Jesus.
Yes, Sunday is still coming… but if you skip right over to it, you’re going to miss the Coronation.
Sit at the feet of the Cross. That Body on it was broken for you. The Blood staining the wood and the nails was shed for you.
Peace out.
TKP
4/2/2026