Lenten Series
Good Friday | Friday, March 20th
Luke 23:32-49
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Death of Jesus
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Reflection
When I meditate on the crucifixion of Christ I am deeply touched by the love of God for you and me. God the Father gave His Son so that we could be reconciled to Himself because of His love for us. Jesus the Son laid aside the glories of heaven to become a man, ultimately to die a wretched painful death because of His so great love for you and me. What wondrous love was on display that day on the cross. May the Spirit of God grant us a new understanding and appreciation for this amazing love.
At the core of Good Friday is the concept of forgiveness. Jesus died as our Passover Lamb, the perfect sacrifice so that our heavenly Father could forgive our sins. Even during the events of that day Jesus forgave the men who literally nailed Him to the cross. Later in the midst of His excruciating pain (the word excruciation literally means out of the cross) and the humiliation of crucifixion Jesus reached out and forgave the thief who hung next to Him. Forgiveness is the core concept of Good Friday, it is also the core concept of the Gospel.
As we come to the completion of our Lenten journey we have one last challenge, to walk in forgiveness. Think about how radical this is in a world filled with people who hold grudges and seek revenge.
Jesus made our forgiving others the key to Him forgiving us. The Lord’s prayer spells it out, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” He goes on to say in Matthew 11:26, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Paul also knew the importance of forgiveness. He said that our refusal to forgive gives the devil and advantage over us. II Corinthians 2:11
Take some time as we complete our Lenten journey to ask the Lord if there is someone you need to forgive. Wait on Him and see if anyone comes to mind. Then forgive them, release them to the Lord. This doesn’t mean you have to trust them, trust is something that is earned, but your job is to forgive. If you have a difficult time, ask the Lord to make you willing to forgive, tell Him you need His help.
The person you need to forgive may be yourself. Look yourself in the eye in the mirror and forgive yourself. If you find you have a load of people to forgive, take several days or weeks and schedule appointments with your counselor, the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to take you back through your life showing you who you need to forgive. This will be a fruitful cleansing experience and will take away the advantage that you have ceded to the devil.
Jesus places a high priority on forgiveness. He is serious about this profound Lenten challenge. It is why He went to the cross.
At the core of Good Friday is the concept of forgiveness. Jesus died as our Passover Lamb, the perfect sacrifice so that our heavenly Father could forgive our sins. Even during the events of that day Jesus forgave the men who literally nailed Him to the cross. Later in the midst of His excruciating pain (the word excruciation literally means out of the cross) and the humiliation of crucifixion Jesus reached out and forgave the thief who hung next to Him. Forgiveness is the core concept of Good Friday, it is also the core concept of the Gospel.
As we come to the completion of our Lenten journey we have one last challenge, to walk in forgiveness. Think about how radical this is in a world filled with people who hold grudges and seek revenge.
Jesus made our forgiving others the key to Him forgiving us. The Lord’s prayer spells it out, “forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” He goes on to say in Matthew 11:26, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Paul also knew the importance of forgiveness. He said that our refusal to forgive gives the devil and advantage over us. II Corinthians 2:11
Take some time as we complete our Lenten journey to ask the Lord if there is someone you need to forgive. Wait on Him and see if anyone comes to mind. Then forgive them, release them to the Lord. This doesn’t mean you have to trust them, trust is something that is earned, but your job is to forgive. If you have a difficult time, ask the Lord to make you willing to forgive, tell Him you need His help.
The person you need to forgive may be yourself. Look yourself in the eye in the mirror and forgive yourself. If you find you have a load of people to forgive, take several days or weeks and schedule appointments with your counselor, the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to take you back through your life showing you who you need to forgive. This will be a fruitful cleansing experience and will take away the advantage that you have ceded to the devil.
Jesus places a high priority on forgiveness. He is serious about this profound Lenten challenge. It is why He went to the cross.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You that Your amazing love is on display in the cross. Help us to comprehend that love and extend it to others by walking in forgiveness each day.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Thank You that Your amazing love is on display in the cross. Help us to comprehend that love and extend it to others by walking in forgiveness each day.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen