Good Friday

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter.

We all know that it commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.

He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…he was pierced for our transgressions…crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth…he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken – - – Isaiah 53:4-8

We must not forget that our God deeply loves the world or to put it badly, the non-elect. We are reminded of this even as, in his dying breath, Jesus forgives those crucifying soldiers – whose care for him extends only to mocking threats and the careful division of his clothes. Here are two prayers for Good Friday.

Good Friday Prayers:-

Lord,
by shedding his blood for us,
your Son, Jesus Christ,
established the paschal mystery.
In your goodness, make us holy
and watch over us always.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Lord,
by the suffering of Christ your Son
you have saved is all from the death
we inherited from sinful Adam.
By the law of nature
we have borne the likeness of his manhood.
May the sanctifying power of grace
help us to put on the likeness of our Lord in heaven
who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

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This day, this Friday, is indeed good. On it our God demonstrated his love for the world and Christ bore our wretched sins. We who now bear his name would do well to treat our sin with similar gravity and the world with similar love.

Since today is the day on which Christ went through so much pain and passion, we should also do something which reminds us of His supreme sacrifice, like watching the movie ‘The Passion of Christ’, helping the sick, the aged and the orphaned or doing any such activity.