Good Friday – 5 Words

“Let us love one another”

John, from his first letter, writes this to a people who are under an empirical leader who is unpredictable, unstable, and shows not to care for anybody but himself.

This is after Judas betrays Jesus. This is after the resurrection.

But since today is Good Friday, my mind and heart take me back to the moment Jesus knew He was going to be betrayed by Judas.

Something happened with Judas that made Jesus wonder and intuit about Judas’ actions and intent. Many of us are sabotaged or betrayed by others without knowing it. Some of us have a sense that something is off with someone and then it happens. A betrayal. A lie exposed.

Most of us have been betrayed at some level. Our parents. A teacher, pastor, or manager. A best friend, a spouse.

Then there are the daily ways we feel off or disconnected from others. We have expectations at work of a manager that will be understanding. We have hope that our spouse will truly understand us. Or we feel like we’re the ones constantly reaching out to the friends list but it is not reciprocated.

This is a range of scenarios and emotions. I know. But it’s life.

Betrayal, rejection, isolation.

“Let us love one another”

The other day, someone asked me, “busy week?”

I said, “yeah, the stat is that 7 out of 10 people are going through something and need to talk about it.”

He said, “Make it, 8.”

“Let us love one another”

Love, this day, means that we give our lives away that others might live.

A friend of mine does that by gathering a group of men to help them talk about their feelings, explore nature, and reconnect to themselves.

Another person I know loves others by creating music that he hopes will LIFT them.

And another friend of mine fixes cars as an act of service and care.

Today, I am wearing all black as a sign of mourning and repentance. I mourn all the ways I do not love others. I grieve how our culture is quick to post things for debate and argument. Our culture is in desperate need of “Let us love one another”.

This Good Friday, hold the grief and remember that you are deeply loved. You are not alone. You are named. You are a gift to this world.

God so loved you and gave…

Maybe there is healing in giving.

Maybe “Let us love one another” as we’ve been loved by God.