Good Friday

Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be by Plantinga describes the cunning and parasitic nature of sin in such a way that I now recognize sin as layered, multifaceted and menacing. The best litmus test for sin now is to determine if a specific thought or action disturbs shalom (peace)— and to what degree? Sin is a disturbance of shalom. This grew me out of a tendency to label thoughts and actions as “sin or not sin” and rather to understand God’s design and desire—and how sin has disrupted that and continues to disrupt that in society, relationships and beyond. If we can grasp the nature of sin, its many forms and its tendency to corrupt even our very best intentions, dreams and accomplishments then we understand what Jesus Christ defeated on that cross in the most profound way. We begin to scratch the surface of how God feels about sin.

On Good Friday I was also reading through Oliver Crisp’s writings on Christology and wondering what relevance the academic discussion could have on individual experiences and application. Struggling through the dense material was part of the process of seeing ‘what sticks’. In the midst of the reading and the typing I dropped everything and picked up a new square canvas and just started painting an image of Christ on the cross from a close-up perspective purely from imagination and saturation in the readings and my own thoughts. I usually paint as an outlet for creative energy and spending time on the idea of the Word taking on flesh — and once again the thoughts of the nature of sin just spilled out of me onto that canvas. It isn’t that the world is lacking for “Christ paintings” but for me it was all about the process and the prompt to paint in the middle of grappling with theological truth.

The painting itself is not very large and uses only two colors—Ultramarine Blue + Burnt Sienna mixtures. I wanted to capture both anguish and peace—both life and death. This painting now hangs on the wall to the right of my work desk. Below it, on a peace of paper is the following verse:

 

“But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14

 

The atoning work of Christ on the cross made possible our reparation and our reconciliation. While a lot of stress is made on reconciliation in evangelical preaching and teaching, there seems to be a lack in the discussion of reparation. How can we become the people of God–before we get to heaven? This resonates with me in a profound way as I long to see that in my church and community. This new relationship with God allows us to be reconciled with God and with one another—this is the transformation we desperately seek.

 

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

-Charles Wesley 1738