For His Friends | Good Friday | 03.04.2026 | John 18:1–19:42 | David H. Brooks |

FOR HIS FRIENDS

The telling of our Lord’s Passion is the place of meeting for all the Gospels. Most scholars would insist that the process that forged each of the gospels began in the crucible of a searing twenty-four hours, a moment in time that began with plans for a celebration of Judaism’s holiest feast ended with the death of Jesus of Nazareth, in whom many had come to believe was the Messiah. On the far side of this event, we will hear good news. But the gospels each begin by telling the story of how and why we got to this crushing moment in time.

The Synoptics tell a story about a man who came preaching the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom that is as close, as intimate as your own breath. He taught people through parables and sermons. He performed many miracles. He opposed those who would claim the Kingdom by any terms other than those of the God who had sent him into the world. He died because of that opposition, which has led many down through the centuries to wonder what might have been if Jesus had been…accepted.

But John—a gospel written by an eyewitness, and the only Gospel which can claim that—John tells us something distinct, even unique.

This Jesus, although he is called Teacher, doesn’t spend much time teaching. This Jesus, although he possesses power over what we might call natural forces, doesn’t display that power often. This Jesus, although he does have opponents, seems largely unperturbed, unthwarted by their animosity.

John wishes us to understand that Jesus died because he chose to do so.

Jesus did not suffer and die as an accident or as an unfortunate end that could have been avoided.

Jesus did not suffer and die because of misunderstanding or insufficient knowledge.

Jesus did not die because the forces of opposition were stronger than he.

Jesus suffered and died because he chose to go down into the land of bondage, the land of death that he might break death’s hold forever. Jesus comes to bring to nothing the gods to which we willingly give ourselves. Jesus confronts both our religious and secular pieties and unravels our insistence that our righteousness is what matters most.

As we think on this night and what it means, I urge you to remember that the entire Gospel of John has told a story that says plainly, “God’s good purpose for you cannot be thwarted, for he has come to you himself, bringing the joy of his kingdom”

The famous Dietrich Bonhöffer, in reflecting on the death of Christ, noted

What does this mean?…The Christian is [that one] who no longer seeks his salvation, his deliverance, his justification in himself, but in Jesus Christ alone. He knows that God’s Word in Jesus Christ pronounces him guilty, even when he does not feel his guilt, and God’s Word in Jesus Christ pronounces him not guilty and righteous, even when he does not feel that he is righteous at all. The Christian no longer lives of himself, by his own claims and his own self-justification, but by God’s claims and God’s justification.

Our Lord’s Passion is the revealing of his compassion for us.

Jesus has called those of us who have clung to him, chased after him, puzzled over him, and yet stuck it out to arrive at this moment in time his friends.

Our circumstances do not matter, for whatever condition or situation in which we may find ourselves, Jesus is more than able, for he has made you his friend.

Our confidence in him can rest on his power and love, not on ourselves—not our faith, not our remorse, not our effort—for Jesus has made you his friend.

Our path forward rests on the only two “commandments” that John says Jesus ever really gave: trust in me, for I Am; and love one another as I love you—for you are My friend, and so I willingly suffer and die for you, that you might have life.

 Amen.

©David H. Brooks
Pr.Dave.Brooks@zoho.com
Grace Lutheran Church
Durham, NC USA