Good Friday, April 15th, 2022
April 1st, 2021
Kingman, IN
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15:13 (NIV)
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ~Romans 5:7-8 (NIV)
Bible Reading • John 19:16-30
Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified
“Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.”
The Crucifixion of Jesus
So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others —one on each side and Jesus in the middle. Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews . Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did. Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Reflection
On this Good Friday, the last Friday of Lent think about spending some time alone in the silence, sitting or standing before the cross. The cross does not need to be real, in your mind visualize the cross that Jesus carried and was nailed to. I know this will be difficult to imagine and even more difficult to allow yourself to feel the moment. Allow the spectacle of the cross to imprint on your soul the weight of Jesus’ love. Breathe, don’t rush, breathe, pause and breathe. Witness your own sins being heaped upon Jesus and allow yourself to grieve this heinous moment in history. Say a simple prayer asking God to hold you in His loving embrace.
Now, try rereading today’s scripture and devotional, pausing wherever you feel the need to respond with sorrow, repentance, adoration and tears.
Everything Jesus did was LOVE.
- Every blow He didn’t reciprocate was LOVE.
- Every moment He stood naked and mocked was LOVE.
- Every step towards Golgotha/Skulls was LOVE.
- Every gasping breath was LOVE.
- Every nanosecond from the kiss in the garden to the cessation of His heartbeat . . . LOVE.
Further Study
The Suffering and Glory of the Servant
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Isaiah%2052:13-53:12&version=NIV
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
Matthew 26:67-68 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2026:67-68&version=NIV
Jesus Before Pilate (verses 11-26)
The Soldiers Mock Jesus (verses 27-31)
The Crucifixion of Jesus (verses 32-44)
The Death of Jesus (verses 45-50)
Matthew 27:22-50 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2027:22-50&version=NIV
Jesus Before the Sanhedrin (verses 53-65)
Jesus Before Pilate (verses 1-15)
The Soldiers Mock Jesus (verses 16-20)
The Crucifixion of Jesus (verses 21-32)
The Death of Jesus (verses 33-37)
Mark 14:65,15:12-37 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Mark%2014:65,15:12-37&version=NIV
The Guards Mock Jesus (verses 63-65)
Luke 22:63-65 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%2022:63-65&version=NIV
Jesus Before Pilate and Herod (verses 11-25)
The Crucifixion of Jesus (verses 26-43)
The Death of Jesus (verses 43-46)
Luke 23:11-16,18-46 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%2023:11-16,18-46&version=NIV
The High Priest Questions Jesus (verses 22-23)
John 18:22-23 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2018:22-23&version=NIV
Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified (verses 1-16)
The Crucifixion of Jesus (verses 17-27)
The Death of Jesus (verses 28-37)
John 19:1-37 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2019:1-37&version=NIV
The Ministry of Reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:21 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%205:21&version=NIV
The Scroll and the Lamb
Revelation 5:12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Revelation%205:12&version=NIV
Friends, we knew this weekend was coming, some are eager for the celebration of Sunday and rightly so. Friday and Saturday leading up to Easter Sunday are difficult to read about and all the more to immerse ourselves into the story. However you choose to reflect on this weekend, my prayer is that we do not rush through the parts that are difficult, instead seek time with God. Share your hearts desires with the one who created you, the one who loves you . . . Indeed, Jesus loved us so much He took our sins upon himself, the one who had never sinned all because of His great LOVE. I love you my brothers and sisters, may the peace of God fill you and sustain you until we are all together with our Lord in Heaven.
✝️ • 💟 • 🛐 • 💜 • 🛐 • 💟 • ✝️
It is such joy to sharing God’s Word, thank you for blessing me with you support and encouragement. ~Peace
~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.
References:
HOPE SEEKER 
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