A Prayer for Good Friday…

Oh, my Father! I can’t begin to imagine the agony You felt on the day Your Son was arrested, mocked, beaten, humiliated, flogged, and nailed to a cross. But as I think back to Genesis 3, I see You always knew this day was coming. You always knew You would have to deny the pleading of Your Son as He begged You to let the cup pass from Him. You always knew as the sins of the world crushed Jesus to death, You would have to turn Your back on the unholiness of it all.

This terrible, awful day was always part of Your plan – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit bent on redeeming sinful man – sinful me. Today is personal. Every insult and injury that Jesus endured was due me, and He bore it all. The shame, pain, and desertion He suffered were the just punishment I earned as a transgressor and rebel against my holy God.

I imagine the eruption of nature as Jesus offers Himself in my place – the chill of a noontime darkness, the howl of the wind on the hill of Golgotha, the “crack!” of the splitting rocks as the earth convulses. Your grief-stricken heart prompts Your hands to rip the curtain of the Temple from top to bottom – but only after the debt is paid, the last words are uttered, and the final breath is taken.

“It is finished.” And I am wrecked. Today is pure sorrow and deepest gratitude. Today is worship. Today, the broken chains of sin fall to the ground. The unbelievable extravagance of grace has been poured out in innocent blood to purchase my sinful heart.

Father God, help me to measure my steps as I walk in freedom. Such a costly gift given from a heart of such unimaginable love – You have made this Friday “good,” and no one else could have.

Offering all of my imperfect love,

Your Child