Good Friday Struggles

Today is Good Friday—the Christian day for commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. I just came back from an afternoon Good Friday service, and I am still struggling with what many people consider a central tenet of Christianity: that Jesus suffered and died, on purpose, as commanded by God, so that our sins could be forgiven.

The problem started when I read a really good book last year called Proverbs of Ashes. In it, two theologians tell their life stories in a way that point out how harmful it was for them to grow up in churches that encouraged them to follow this understanding of the way of Jesus. As in, continued self-sacrifice in the face of violence and abuse. It’s amazing how easy it is to turn “Jesus suffered,” into “you/I should suffer too.” A perfect way to justify evil.

Jesus died a terrible death at the hands of powerful Romans who didn’t really care whether he was guilty or innocent of what he was accused of. This is a tragedy, and it shows us, unfortunately, the excesses of power. But God enters the picture not to watch sternly as some necessary punishment takes place. God grieves with the women at the foot of the cross, and God, ultimately, raises Jesus from the dead.

Good Friday seems built around guilt. Built around the message, “Jesus suffered all this for you.” Maybe all that it should really be about is grief: grief that Jesus suffered and that the world still suffers, two thousand years later.

[P.S. This is weirdly related]