The Final Lessons: A Holy Week PlanShembull

Death

I’ve always found it strange that today is referred to as Good Friday. My husband makes fun of me because I often mix up Good Friday and Black Friday calling Good Friday, Black Friday (because it’s sad); and Black Friday, Good Friday (because the sales are oh so good). (Ha!)

This day—the day we look at the crucifixion of Christ doesn’t seem very good. I get that what He accomplished for us that day is good, but there is no power in His death without His resurrection. So to me this day seems dark with mourning—the opposite of good.

How about you—what emotions arise in you when you consider the Cross?

Today’s reading is lengthy. Don’t skim or skip because the story is familiar. Ask the Spirit, your Helper, to connect you to the death of Christ in a new way.

Read John 19:1-30.

As I read through it myself, these are some of the things I took note of about what Jesus endured: flogged by Pilate, crown of thorns on His head, mocking purple robe and hails, struck by the soldiers’ hands, shamefully displayed to the people, heard chants to be crucified, found innocent by Pilate, refused to speak, deferred all authority to God, sat on judgment seat, more cheers to crucify Him, delivered to be crucified. Bore his own cross, crucified, handed over his mother to John, was thirsty, received sour wine, spoke, and died.

I often find myself numb to the crucifixion of Christ. Crosses are everywhere. We wear them around our necks and hang them on our walls. If we’ve grown up in church we’ve heard this story again and again and again and again. Not to mention that our culture is so inundated by media that is so visually graphic that the cross doesn’t seem very dark when we paint it with rolling hills and a glowing sunset in the background.

Today, let’s ask our Helper to give us a fresh perspective on what Christ endured and accomplished that day.

Hundreds of years before this day, the prophet Isaiah penned these words about Jesus and what He would endure:

Read Isaiah 53:4-12.