Good Friday
Scripture: Matthew
27:1-56
This week’s devotions
follow a different pattern. They will focus on Gospel accounts of the last week
of Jesus’ life. I encourage you to read each of the readings slowly, perhaps
out loud, and to meditate on Jesus’ love in his actions. The prayers offered
are from the early twentieth century and variations on them are still used in
worship.
Teaching
There it is. Jesus, falsely accused, run through a rigged
court, denied justice by a Roman court, is crucified and dies. To be sure,
there is much more that could be pulled out of this text. Books have been
written on this topic. But today we ponder that Jesus, the holy Son of God,
died for sinners – and it is at his death that we hear, “Truly this was the Son
of God!”
Life
Jesus died to pay for our sins. Grief, sorrow, and shame are
appropriate response to this news, but those emotions must always be touched
with a thrill of hope. Jesus died to pay for your sins, so you don’t have to
die for them. Jesus died to rescue you from eternal death. The deed is done. You
stand forgiven through faith in him.
Prayer
O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou innocent Lamb of God, who was
numbered with the transgressors and led forth to the ignominious death of the
cross for our sins, being made a curse for us to satisfy the eternal and
inexorable justice of God: we give Thee most hearty praise, honor, and glory
for Thine infinite mercy, and beseech Thee, Thou wouldst strengthen our faith
and trust in Thee, that, being redeemed from the curse of the Law, we may
comfort ourselves in every temptation with Thy all-sufficient merit. Let the
preaching of the Cross be to us the power of God and the wisdom of God, that by
the faithful use of Thy Word we may obtain the blessings which Thou has
promised.
Grant us Thy grace, that, as our old man is crucified with
Thee, we may crucify our flesh, and henceforth serve not sin, but walk in
newness of life. May we also with true faith and sincere devotion follow Thy
example in affliction and sorrow, love our enemies, and willingly suffer injury
and injustice for Thy meekness’ sake.
Draw us to Thee, as on the cross Thou didst win the dying
malefactor. As Thou didst pray for those who reviled and crucified Thee, even
so intercede for us with Thy heavenly Father; and grant that we may continue in
steadfast faith, a good conscience, and patient hope unto the end. Remember us
in Thy kingdom, let Thy cross be our solace in all final distress, and receive
our souls into Thy hands; for Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord God of Truth. Amen.[1]
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