Be Still: Dear Father, indeed it is Good Friday. Thank you for being willing to give up Your only Son for us. In Jesus’ name, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen
Be Strengthened: Matthew 27:45-56
45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46About 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?" 47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He' s calling Elijah." 48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let' s see if Elijah comes to save him." 50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" 55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee' s sons.
Be Stretched: Everyone else had rejected Jesus, and now the Father turns His face away. Jesus endured being forsaken by God so that we will never have to. What was it like for God the Father, who had always been with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, to allow His Son to die? To hear Jesus cry out, ‘why have You forsaken me?’ Jesus surely suffered, but the separation and loss cut both ways. All persons of the Trinity chose to endure pain for us so that we can have life. In quiet gratitude, reflect on this amazing day.
Be Stretched: Everyone else had rejected Jesus, and now the Father turns His face away. Jesus endured being forsaken by God so that we will never have to. What was it like for God the Father, who had always been with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, to allow His Son to die? To hear Jesus cry out, ‘why have You forsaken me?’ Jesus surely suffered, but the separation and loss cut both ways. All persons of the Trinity chose to endure pain for us so that we can have life. In quiet gratitude, reflect on this amazing day.
No comments:
Post a Comment