At Concordia University Wisconsin, Christ crucified shapes our faith, our life together and our call to live in his love.
Luke 23:33–34: “And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right hand and one on his left. And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”
CUW’s chapel features a larger-than-life crucifix as its focal point. Hanging front and center above the altar, Christ crucified is the defining image of the Chapel of Christ Triumphant. That crucifix witnesses that the Christian faith centers on Christ and him crucified. Accordingly, Good Friday is foundational for the Christian church.
Good Friday is part of the holiest days in the church: the three days incorporating the Last Supper, Jesus’ betrayal, trial, condemnation, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. By these events, Jesus redeemed mankind from sin and death and wins an eternal life that he promises to all who believe in him.
Good Friday is foundational for Concordia as well. We orient our life together around Christ, striving to place him at the center of all that we do.
Accordingly, we gather in chapel for devotion and prayer. We hear the Word proclaiming that Christ was crucified for our life and forgiveness. We go out to model Christ in our interactions with one another. Good Friday offers us an image of the life we are called to model.
In his sermon on Good Friday in 1529, Martin Luther called attention to Jesus on the cross as the Great High Priest. Like the priests of the Old Testament, Jesus is clad in fine vestments and makes a sacrifice. Instead of the priestly robes worn by Aaron and his sons, Jesus is adorned with the virtues of patience, obedience, humility, love, and gentleness. Every possible virtue comes together in Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God.
Those virtues are evident in Jesus’ prayer for those who crucify him. Jesus shows his love for them rather than lashing out in anger or threatening vengeance. He prays to his Father to forgive them. This gives us an image of the patience, gentleness and love of Christ. He loves even those Roman soldiers nailing him to the cross.
This love of Christ inspires our love for others. We strive to show the same gentleness, humility and love as Christ. We aim to live in obedience to God, as Jesus did, and to live with the same humility that he shows as he humbles himself to the point of death on the cross.
Good Friday is a holy day at Concordia: a day set apart from our everyday work. Classes are canceled. Offices are closed to allow our community to observe Good Friday in prayer and devotion and worship at their congregations.
As Christ stands at the center of our university, on this day we place studies, classes, and meetings aside so that we might all gather at the foot of the cross and see in Jesus our Savior.
Written by Rev. Dr. Aaron Moldenhauer
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Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world.