Today, Good Friday, defines Forgiveness Fridays. On this holy day, we remember the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ. By his death he imparted to us forgiveness. We receive and give forgiveness because of this saving act.
Some poems and watercolors to consider on this day. My prayer for you is that God’s love poured out through his Son on the cross will envelop you through the Holy Spirit.
On this most holy of days, I have to go straight to the crucifixion of Jesus and come back later to the wonderful Last Discourse. For on this day we remember the biggest sacrifice our Lord could have made – giving his very life that we might have new life. The story unrolls like a boulder gathering speed as it slams down a hill. At the end, we lay stunned and bruised, wondering what just happened.
Oh how I love these words of Jesus: “I and in my Father and you are in me and I am in you.” What a concept, that the three persons of the Trinity dwell in each other, and we dwell in them, and they in us. Utterly transforming. Mind-boggling. Humbling. Wonderful. On this day when Jesus taught from the Mount of Olives before returning to Bethany, might you not ponder this wonderful mystery?
We’ve made it to some of my very favorite parts of Scripture – the Last Discourse as it’s known, when Jesus prepares his friends for his death and resurrection. In these chapters (roughly 14 to 17), he promises the coming Advocate (the Holy Spirit) four times. He won’t be leaving them as orphans, for the Spirit will come to live in them and be with them. And as we see in today’s text, he goes to prepare a room for them – and for us – in his Father’s house. Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.
Not only does Judas betray Jesus, but he knows that Peter will too. How deep Jesus’ love, that he knew what was to come and yet submitted to the abuse and murder, all the while loving and forgiving.
