The Cross of Christਨਮੂਨਾ

Good Friday: Sacred Space

Wat Pho is one of Bangkok's largest ancient temple complexes. It is known for its giant 46-metre reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf and for having more statues than any other Thai temple.

When I visited the temple as a tourist in 2016, I was struck by its magnitude and respect. Visitors were required to wear appropriate clothes, shoes had to be removed, and no frivolity was permitted in their venerated space.

As we enter Good Friday, it offers a truly sacred space. It is so holy, horrific, and significant that human words fail to describe it.

The bread and wine object lesson of the Last Supper, representative of a broken body and blood spilled, would become a reality this day.

The hill known as Golgotha (“the Place of the Skull”), outside the city walls, the despised execution site, became a sacred space as the holy blood was shed.

Leviticus describes the importance of blood in the sacrificial system: “…for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible” (Leviticus 17:10-12 NLT).

Sacrificial blood was both life-giving and purifying. John picks this up when he says: “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 NLT).

This is holy ground, a sacred space.

Sometimes, we come to the Cross as the place for our personal salvation. While true, it is more than a privatized event, a “me-and-Jesus-are-good” moment, or our get-out-of-jail-free card as a “fire escape” from hell.

This sacred space declares:

·The love of God for all: “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16)

·The mission of God to all: “We are Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

·The reign of God above all: “…the lamb on the throne” (Revelation 7:17)

Theologian Lesslie Newbigin said, “The King reigns from the tree. The reign of God has indeed come upon us, and its sign is not a golden throne but a wooden cross.”

Our hope is not political power, new technologies, or self-improvement.

Our hope emanates from the sacred space of a Cross with arms outstretched to embrace the whole world.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your broken body and shed blood, which accomplished my salvation and salvation for the world. Please help me find some sacred space today to worship You with gratitude for Your sacrifice. Amen!

Reflection: Are there areas of your life that need cleansing? Maybe secret sins no one knows about? Perhaps you have never invited Christ to be your Lord and Saviour? In light of His great sacrifice, why not receive His forgiveness today? (P.S. If you do, reach out to us! We’d love to support you in your faith journey!)