Holy Week Devotional: Good Friday

Good Friday: Resignation/Acceptance

Scripture: John 18:1- 19:42

We never thought it would come to this.

The divorce, the diagnosis, the storm, the death.

This. Is. Not. What. We. Wanted. Out. Of. Life.

This is not where we expected to see death.

Blood, sweat, tears. Why did they have to be ours?

Why did they have to be yours, Jesus?

When will they stop?

We sit before the cross, before the ruined home, the destruction, before all the symbols of death and devastation, and we weep for what has been lost.

Why did it come to this?

We sit, we weep, we cry out, we shake our heads and hands in fury.

We do not sit alone.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there,
sitting opposite the tomb.
—Matthew 27.61

Questions for Reflection:

What do you weep for? What has been lost? Who sits with you in your grief?

Prayer:

In this holy time,
as we remember the sacrifice of the cross,
we offer the prayers of our hearts,
that through them we may be transformed
to be servants of justice, love and peace.

Make us steadfast witnesses of our Savior's reign,
that we may live in the pattern of Christ,
who was faithful in all things,
even death,
and whose darkest hour gives light and hope. Amen.

(From The Revised Common Lectionary)