We worship a creative and surprising God! His love for unexpected beauty shows up throughout creation. We see it in the strange and beautiful animals, birds, and fish. We see it through his choice to use the ignored and unexpected for his purposes (Moses, David, Ruth, and Rahab come to mind). In retrospect, it’s no wonder that when he chose to clothe himself in humanity, he became the son of a carpenter in an out-of-the-way, good-for-nothing village called Nazareth. God likes to achieve miraculous things in unexpected ways!
The same is true for the crucifixion and resurrection! So miraculous! So unexpected! The Word from the beginning, now in human flesh, was falsely convicted, mocked, beaten, and executed on a Roman cross?!? We often spend Good Friday focused on the suffering Jesus endured, putting ourselves in the place of his shell-shocked disciples, or grieving his painful death. These are appropriate. They help us take in the reality and gravity of it all. We don’t want to take it for granted. However, would you consider another way of looking at the cross this year?
Although the disciples had to sort it all out later, we know the rest of the story. We have the New Testament to put the pieces together. We look back at Jesus’ suffering through the lens of resurrection. When we see it from that perspective, the unexpected beauty of Christ appears victorious! Our Savior King’s coronation occurred on a cross!
At the cross, Jesus took the eternal throne,
though it looked like those enthroned convicted him.
At the cross, Jesus broke the curse,
though it looked like the curse was breaking him.
At the cross, Jesus defeated evil,
though it looked like evil was defeating him.
At the cross, Jesus gave eternal life to sinful man,
though it looked like sinful man was killing him.
The Gospels carefully display tons of royal imagery in the crucifixion account. Palace, robe, staff, crown, procession, attendants, homage, and the sign that says it all: “The King of the Jews.” Although most of the royal treatment given to Jesus mocked him, the imagery remains. And now, looking back through the resurrection, we see how truly royal he is!
At the cross, Jesus takes his throne! Rising from the grave, he validates his rule and reign forevermore! In Jesus’ unexpected death: “Shame is transformed into glory, foolishness into wisdom, and humiliation into exaltation. The cross is the throne from which Christ rules the world” (Jeremy Treat). And the resurrection seals it in power!
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
For God himself upon the tree.
Is crowned forever, Savior King!