Good Friday - John
18:1—19:42
Today is one of the holiest of days in our Christian tradition.
On this Good Friday we hear John’s account of Jesus’ Passion. The Passion
narratives are never easy to listen to. They tell the story of betrayal,
fearful disciples who deserted Jesus, Jesus’ arrest, questioning, and flogging
by Pilate and the death penalty. Jesus
freely and willingly chose to go up to Jerusalem, knowing that he likely would
die in the days ahead. Jesus was willing
to do this for you and for me. In the course of his passion, Jesus was rejected
by his own people. Jesus was at the
mercy of Pilate and the Roman soldiers. The
crowds derided him, spit on him, mocked him, and scorned him! Imagine what a nightmare this must have been
for Jesus!
Jesus freely and lovingly came to earth and gave his life
for you and for me. Do we truly think of
it in that light? Or is this story so
familiar that it has lost any power to touch us? Does Jesus’ passion and death truly touch the
depths of our minds and our hearts? What
are the emotions we experience when we hear the Passion read this week (and we
hear it twice, first on Palm Sunday and then on Good Friday). Do we experience any emotions or do we just
listen to the Passion narrative in a detached manner?
On this Good Friday may we consciously decide to enter into
Jesus’ passion. May we open our hearts and walk with Jesus as he carries the
cross to Calvary. It is the very least we can do. Jesus literally gave his all
for us. Jesus freely chose to die for us.
Yes, we know this. , but do we truly comprehend the depths of what Jesus did
for you and for me?
Today may we ponder the height, the depth and the width of
Jesus’ love for us. Truly, there is no greater love!
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