T.G.I.F.

Does the name “Larry Appleton” sound familiar?  Perhaps if I toss in “Balki Bartokomous” it might become a bit clearer (at least to those of us born before 1980).  The show was Perfect Strangers, and it was part of ABC’s late 80’s-early 90’s TGIF programming block, a moniker borrowed from the pop culture phrase “Thank God, It’s Friday!”  In some ways the two cousins might serve as an allegory for this transition point in our church year.  We teeter in precarious balance between Larry’s new world ideas and Balki’s old world views.

I’ve often struggled with how the church can use the name “Good Friday” to mark the day of Jesus’ brutal crucifixion and death.  Perhaps, to those Jews in Jerusalem, it may have been one.  After a tumultuous week where Jesus had entered the temple and tossed the market into disarray, this may have seemed like T.G.I.F.  More than likely, Jesus’ disciples were telling people to “Watch and Learn”, and the response from the Jewish leadership was “Don’t be Ridiculous!”  And then what ultimately transpired was truly both miraculous and enlightening.

If Jesus had not died (in the flesh), there could not have been a resurrection.  He would have left us only an example of how to really live our earthly life according to the intent of the Law.  We would still be bound to this dust from which we came and would eventually return.  But instead, he opened a doorway for us to continue our relationship with God long after our mortal existence has ended.

Looking back, it still would be difficult to call it a “Great” Friday.  Yet it remains a “Good” Friday.  And perhaps this is why on Easter morning we can do the “Dance of Joy”!

In Christ,
David Krueger

An audio meditation:  Jesus Died Alone