How Do We Emulate Christ on Good Friday?

This is the question that has been on my mind this week.

In Matthew chapter 5, Christ gives his followers some instructions for dealing with the “evil” person. The biblical authors are careful to lay out the ministry of Jesus as continuously pointing towards the cross, and through this lens I have recently come to a better understanding of Jesus’ words. I had always read Matthew 5 with the understanding that I was the one legally in the right, and that Jesus’ instructions outlined how I ought to respond to an “evil” person. But I see more clearly now. I see that as one of those evil people, it was me who welcomed Christ into Jerusalem with waving palm branches, and it was me who demanded his death by crucifixion 5 days later.

So what does Jesus say about dealing with these evil people like me? Well, Jesus issues the continuous reminder to focus on the person behind the perpetrations.  So while it may be the law that a civilian can be asked to carry a soldier’s belongings, our job is to focus on the soldier himself. And while a man may sue you and attempt to take the very shirt off your back, give him your coat as well so that in your nakedness you shame him and force him to work out an agreement personally with you. You force the conversation and the relationship to continue.

That is, after all, what Jesus did, isn’t it? When we sued him for his shirt he gave us his cloak as well, giving up his life for the forgiveness of our sins so that our evilness was laid out plainly before us. But even before he died on the cross, Jesus interceded on our behalf and asked God for our forgiveness. On Good Friday, a day during which we meditate upon the life-saving death of our Lord Jesus Christ, it’s appropriate that we also meditate the death-defeating life that Christ lived for each one of us, and the work he did to ensure a personal relationship with each of us.

So how do we emulate Christ? We live lives devoted to sharing the good news of Easter.

[Kristin vanEyk lives in Kentwood, MI where she attends Encounter Church.]