Holy Week – Friday April 2 – A PRAYER FOR GOOD FRIDAY

Holy Week

Friday April 2 – A PRAYER FOR GOOD FRIDAY

“27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[a] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b]
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.” – Matthew 27:27-50 (NIV),

Beautiful Father,

Our hearts turn to You, today.

It doesn’t make sense that You would allow Your only Son to be beaten and mocked. Why would you allow Him to go through that for us? Never has a love so selfless changed the world in such a powerful way.

We don’t deserve this. You know us.

And yet you offer Jesus to save us, and we are beyond grateful.

On this Good Friday, we remember what Jesus has done for us. We remember how He was mocked: the scarlet robe, the crown of thorns, the staff in His hand.

Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.

The criminals who were crucified on each side of Jesus had done terrible things. The one criminal whose heart had softened to Jesus was able to see the love of God in one moment.

It changed him forever.

Those who threw insults at him thought that Jesus was a fraud. They thought that the story was over. Even the religious leaders expected Jesus to break God’s plan to prove to them that He was the Messiah. Jesus trusted God, but He was not going to put the Lord to the test. He stayed faithful to the mission to the very end.

Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.

How many times have we hurled insults at You, mocked You, ignored Your call in our lives? How many times have we threatened to believe in You if only You would prove Your power to us? How many times have we said, “If You do this God, then I will know You are the true God” when You have been with us all this time?

Forgive us, Father, for we know not what we do.

Jesus, in Your loving kindness, show us mercy for the times we don’t understand.

Show us mercy for the times we take Your sacrifice for granted.

Show us mercy when we only think of ourselves and not others.

We are a grateful people on this very Good Friday: we are humbled by Your sacrifice.

We give You praise because You are a forgiving God and a loving Father. We do not deserve the gift You have given us, but we are so thankful.

Live in us. Move in us.

We are grateful that the story does not end here, but for today we are overwhelmed by how much You love us. Your love has changed us, and we will never be the same.

As we wait at the foot of the cross, we see Your arms stretched outright, Jesus. Thank You for loving us so much that You call us friend. Thank You for laying down Your life for us.

May we share this truth with the world. and may You dwell in us today.

Live in us. Move in us.  Forever.

For we ask and pray these things in Jesus’ name,

Amen.