Sermon: Good Friday, John 18:1—19:42, April 7, 2023 Faith-La Fe Lutheran Church, Pastor Linman

Sermon: Good Friday, John 18:1—19:42, April 7, 2023

Faith-La Fe Lutheran Church, Pastor Jonathan Linman

As I was reading and engaging the Passion according to John in preparation for tonight’s solemnities, I paid attention to the words that seemed to echo through the centuries with the greatest resonance for us in our season. This is what I heard:

Jesus said, “Here I AM.” At his arrest in the garden, the soldiers and police came looking for Jesus, asking for him. Three times Jesus replied to them, (3X) “Here I AM.” “I AM.” That’s how God referred to Godself in the Hebrew scriptures when asked, “who are you? What is your name?” And Jesus uses the same “I AM” statement throughout John’s Gospel. There are seven such “I AM” designations that John reports Jesus said about himself: I am the bread of life; I am the light of the world; I am the door; I am the good shepherd; I am the resurrection and the life; I am the way, the truth, and the life; I am the true vine.  

The “I AM” who is Jesus is the same “I AM” of the God of the ages, according to John in the first chapter of his Gospel where he writes: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This Word is Jesus, God’s word made flesh full of grace and truth.

When Jesus says three times in the garden at his arrest, “Here I AM,” he is making a profound theological statement about himself that is far more than a simple identifier of his location for those about to arrest him. In saying, “Here I AM,” Jesus proclaims the whole of the gospel in those three words, “Here I AM.”

Jesus’ affirmation stands in sharp and bitter contrast to Peter’s witness in the story. Peter said three times, “I am not,” an odd, mirror opposite to Jesus’ I AM statements. “I am not” was Peter’s reply to those who asked him if he were one of Jesus’ disciples. Denying his affiliation with Jesus, Peter said, “I am not,” again, the very antithesis to Jesus’ “I AM” statements. Peter’s denial, and by extension, the occasions of our denials of Jesus, are exactly what Jesus goes to the cross, to death, and to the empty tomb in new life to overcome. Jesus, the I AM, overcomes our spirit of denial, “I am not.” Jesus’ positive acceptance counteracts our rejecting denial. Jesus, the “I AM,” is God’s loving “yes!” to our defiant, rebellious “no!” Thanks be to God.

Here is more of what I hear in John’s Passion: later in the story, when Pilate brought Jesus before the crowds for them to render their opinion, if not to say, their verdict about Jesus, Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” This statement echoes what John the Baptist said about Jesus early in John’s Gospel when the Baptist saw Jesus passing by: “Here is the Lamb of God,” John cried, “who takes away the sin of the world!”

And the next day, John the Baptist proclaimed again, “Look [behold], here is the Lamb of God!” John the Baptist’s exclamation was uttered in praise and adoration of Jesus. Pilate’s utterance, “Behold the man!” is offered with sarcasm and derision. Another sharp contrast revealing the stark difference between faith and unfaith, belief and unbelief, themes so central in John’s Gospel.

This very Lamb of God, whom Pilate presented to the people, was rejected by the crowds when they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” And that cry which propelled Jesus to the cross by Pilate’s assent to the people’s wishes paradoxically brings fulfillment to John’s affirmation: “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Indeed, it was on the cross where Jesus, the Lamb of God, in fact took away the sin of the world. Once again, the people’s rejection becomes the occasion for God’s loving forgiveness and accepting and claiming us in Christ, not rejecting us, even if we reject Christ by yelling, “Crucify him!” Once again: Thanks be to God!

Here is more of what I heard in this Pasion story: Indeed, despite the rejection by the people, Jesus, God’s lamb, loved them all to the very end. When Jesus was crucified, and he saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside Mary, Jesus said to his mother, “Woman, here is your Son.” And then he said to the disciple whom he loved, “Here is your mother.”

These loving pronouncements reveal how even in the absence of Jesus’ earthly presence, Jesus’ teachings, his loving commands go beyond his death, his new life, and his return to the Father in how we care for each other in Christian community. Indeed, Christ lives in our loving regard for each other – as Mary cared for the beloved disciple and as the beloved disciple cared for Mary. And when we care for each other, Christ’s love shines through us. Yet again: Thanks be to God.

Then, another set of few words that echo with resonance through the centuries is Jesus’ simple statement, “I am thirsty.” “I thirst.” John reports that Jesus said this to fulfill the scripture, namely the prophecy recorded in Psalms 22 and 69, when he was given sour wine to drink as he drew some of his final breaths.

“I am thirsty,” Jesus said. This is a reminder of the fullness of Jesus’ humanity, even if he is the very Word from God, who was and is God, who came down from heaven to take on human flesh, to abide with us, as one of us – even as one who becomes thirsty. Jesus’ statement about his thirst, offered in solidarity with us who also thirst, both literally and metaphorically, is a confirmation that Jesus is indeed Emmanuel, God is with us – even in our thirst.

Finally, the last set of words from the Passion according to John that echo in our ears in these latter days, as Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit, he said, “It is finished.” It is finished. That is to say, it is accomplished. It is completed. It is perfect. That’s what the original biblical language implies – Jesus’ death on the cross accomplishes and completes in total perfection what the Father sent him to do. What more can be said?

May Jesus’ words, and the other words that John reported in his version of the Passion, sink deeply into your hearts, minds, souls and even your bodies for your encouragement in and strengthening of faith on this Good Friday – and always. Amen.