Lent 04•02•2021: Show Me The Way

Good Friday, April 2nd, 2021

Dear friends —

Today, we observe “Good Friday,” it commemorates, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion and death. This day we recall the suffering that Jesus endured. The enormous agony of Jesus’ Mother, watching her son beaten, tortured, mocked and nailed to a cross. His disciples were so terrified and scared that they could not even stand with Jesus at the cross or stand with Jesus, mother for comfort and support.

If we had been there, what would we have done?

Unlike those who were there on that day, that Friday so many years ago, it was a sad and sorrowful Friday. We have the privilege of knowing “the rest of the story” of Jesus’ victory over death. It’s can be so easy to rush through Good Friday and the Saturday which follows and RUSH right into Easter Sunday…please, I beg you do not rush Jesus’ suffering: and I strongly suggest that we be intentional about remembering the debt that was paid for our salvation. Can you hear the voice of Jesus crying out? … “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

— Matthew 27:46 —

“And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”

— Mark 15:34 —

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eloi, eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”

Photo Credit: IMDb

The Passion of the Christ (2004) – Photo Gallery – IMDb

The crucifixion cross that was meant for horror, shame, ridicule and cruelty; their plan failed, the crucifixion cross become the Cross of Hope for all who believe and place their trust in Jesus Christ. Our Rock and our Redeemer.

The Cross of Hope

“The cross of horror became the cross of Hope, the tortured body became the body that gives new life; the gaping wounds became the source of forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation” — Henri Nouwen

🔘IT’S FRIDAY BUT SUNDAY’S COMING🔘

🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳🔲🔳

Lenten M•I•C•R•O Practice for today:

~ Practice Grace ~ Day 39 ~ Good Friday

Practice grace in everything you do today. Extend some to your family if they irate you, to the slow people in your checkout line, or to the cars that pull out in front of you. Notice where you need grace extended to you, too.

✝️ Prayer ✝️

O dear Lord, what can I say to you?

Is there any word that could come from my mouth,

any thought? any sentence?

You died for me, you gave all for my sins,

you not only became man for me

but also suffered the cruel death for me.

Is there any response?

I wish that I could find a fitting response,

but contemplating your Holy Passion and Death

I can only confess humbly to you

that the immensity of your divine love

makes any response seem totally inadequate.

Let me just stand and look at you.

Your body is broken, your head wounded,

your hands and feet are split open by nails,

your side is pierced.

Your dead body now rests in the arms of your Mother.

It is all over now. It is finished.

It is fulfilled. It is accomplished.

Sweet Lord, gracious Lord,

generous Lord, forgiving Lord,

I adore you, I praise you, I thank you.

You have made all things new

through your passion and death.

Your cross has been planted in this world

as a new sign of hope.

Let me always live under your cross, O Lord,

and proclaim the hope of your cross unceasingly.

~ Amen

Thank you for stopping by my blog space today, I appreciate your support. Blessings to you on this Good Friday.

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

References:

Show Me The Way — Henri J.M.Nouwen • 1992 The Crossroad Publishing 

(1) Show Me The Way — Henri J.M.Nouwen • 1992 The Crossroad Publishing • Page 134paragraph 2.

https://biblehub.com/

https://www.biblegateway.com/

(NIV) New International Version Bible/Translation 

(NRSVA) New Revised Standard Version Apocrypha 

(NJBV) New Jerusalem Bible Version/Translation