Good Friday 2021

Good Friday, April 2, 2021  | A Sermon on St. John 18:1-19:42 | by The Rev. Dr. K. Mills |

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son+, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.  

After all that this past year has brought,

after all that this past year has taken,

on this Good Friday I remember back to my childhood.

I loved the poet and writer, Shel Silverstein.

I remember eagerly going to the school library to borrow

“Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “A Light in the Attic.”

The only book I owned, however, was one my mother had given to me:

“The Giving Tree.”

 

It is the story of a friendship between a boy and a tree.

Silverstein tells the story of the boy’s life through the gifts the tree gives to him.

The tree provides a long branch on which the boy can swing and play.

The tree provides leafy shade from the warm summer sun.

 

As the boy grows older, the tree gives space for the boy and his lover to carve their initials.

As the boy becomes a man – the tree gives her branches for wood for the boy to build.

As an older man, the tree’s trunk makes a boat, so the man can go fishing.

 

Finally, all that is left of the tree is a weather-beaten old stump.

Silverstein illustrates the once beautiful, large, living tree as a sagging, worn-out, dying stump.

The tree looks like she has nothing to offer.

 

One day, the boy, now an old man, comes shuffling into the wood to see the tree.

She sadly explains that she has given all that she can to the boy.

The tree just doesn’t have anything left.

But, the boy tells that tree that he has led a long and full life.

He is tired.

He’d only like a place to sit and rest.

The tree gives him one more gift – she is able to provide her beloved boy with what he needs-

A place to rest.

 

And so the story ends- the two friends, companions once more.

 

I cannot help but think that eventually both the tree and the boy will die.

The tree has given all that she can.

Without her strong branches and leaves to absorb the sun, her roots will wither.

She will fade back into the earth.

The tree will have nothing to give.

 

And sometimes I think – that boy- he was so selfish!

What did he give to the tree?

He took everything the tree had to give.

He took everything and she gave her life for him.

 

Yes, on this Good Friday, we took everything and He gave his life for us.

 

Today we hear about the final days of Jesus’ ministry.

Here is the culmination.

Jesus has gathered followers.

He has shown signs to the people.

He has preached to them the kingdom of God.

Jesus has entered the great city of Jerusalem.

Here he is to receive the glory he has been speaking of.

He is to be raised up.

The glory of the Son is to be revealed.

 

But we took everything and he gave up his life.

Jesus- imprisoned, tortured, stripped-

The people have deserted him.

He is crowned in mockery.

Robed in royal purple only to be ridiculed.

 

And then – then he is raised up.

Raised up onto the cross – the cruelest form of death in those days.

Death on a cross was so cruel, that citizens of the Roman Empire were never subject to it.

It was reserved for the lowest of the low.

Non-citizens, slaves, criminals.

 

Jesus is raised up, nailed to a tree.

Naked, deserted, dying.

He has nothing left to give.

 

And yet, it is at this moment that the glory of God is revealed.

The Son of Man is to be lifted up.

Here he is – Jesus is dying –

In those last moments of breathing, of blood flowing through his body.

Here- here is God revealed.

 

For here is the Giving Tree.

 

The Cross has become the Tree of Life.

Here the boughs are spread forth to provide shelter.

They open wide to accept all into the arms of grace.

 

The nutrients- the blood and water- they flow out-

That they might water and nourish the earth.

 

And the trunk- the trunk of that tree is rooted firmly into the earth.

Jesus has brought God’s love to us.

Nothing will separate us.

 

Deserted, dying- lifted up in cruel torture-

Jesus, the Son of Man- the dying one-

He is raised into the glory of God.

God calls us to the foot of the cross.

God calls us to the Tree of life.

Gather under these branches.

Come, behold life in these limbs.

 

This tree, this Jesus will give you shelter.

Seek safety in this place.

This tree is for you, for your salvation.

Its leaves bring forth the healing of the nations.

 

Jesus, on the cross

Here is the glorious, giving Tree.

Come seek shelter.

It is for you.

 

Amen.

—

The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Mills

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Trumbull, CT