Cover via Amazon
Today was another fine day of substitute teaching. The students found out that I was a minister at one point. Yah, they asked questions. Anyways.
I could not wait to get home to go to the Good Friday service at church.
A service of Tenebrae, according to the description on the back, was an apostolic tradition, started perhaps as early as the 5th century. Emphasized is the suffering, death, and burial of Jesus, and all of the sadness and tragedy that comes with it. The lights turns to dark, as candles are extinguished after the reading of Jesus’ last words.
The Seven Shadows of Tenebrae are:
The Shadow of Betrayal, Desertion, Unshared Vigil, Accusation, Crucifixion, Death, and the Tomb.
I cherished this service, for it was not about being all cheery, but lament, for the Jewish and Christian traditions are about tragedy and triumph. Some churches act like Ren and Stimpy:
I don’t think you’re happy enough!
Sigh.
Let’s all just sit in our pews and sing kumbayah, pretend everything is okay. I love Good Friday. It’s my favorite Christian Holy Day exactly because it is the day Omnipotence dies, the day that classical theists who are Christian must admit they are wrong for that one day, and that Christians get to sit and meditate for at least two days on how the God of life was given the death penalty, among other things.
I do not leave you with a gospel song or anything, just the image of a bleeding God.
Jesse Ventura’s character on the original Predator movie said, “I ain’t got time to bleed.”
Well, guess what? God did. And Ventura thinks God is a crutch for weak people. Go figure.
Your love for Jesus and what He endured for us comes through. It blessed my soul. Thank you.