Christian Reflection and Prayer

Paid in Full Good Friday

Scripture:

Read John 19:16-30.

TEXT: "So he delivered Him over to
them to be crucified. So they took
Jesus, and He went out, bearing His
own cross, to the place called The
Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is
called Golgotha" (John 19:16-17).

Jesus shows remarkable strength in
His first three hours on the cross.
Even while He is suffering for our sins,
His focus is not on Himself, but on the
people around Him. Seeing His
enemies He pleads, "Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they do
" (Luke 23:34a). He promises the
repentant criminal at His side, "Today
You will be with Me in paradise"
(Luke 23:43b). He provides a disciple
to care for His mother after He is gone
"Woman, behold, your son!" and to the
disciple, "Behold, your mother!"
(John 19:26b, 27b).

Then at noon comes the darkness.
Luke tells us the sun stopped shining.
Jesus hangs alone in the darkness
silently suffering God's wrath at the sins
of the world. Finally, after three hours
He cries out in agony, "My God, My God,
why have You forsaken Me?"
(Matthew 27:46b).

By three in the afternoon, it is over. God
the Father has unleashed His full wrath-
not a single one of our sins has gone
unpunished. John tells us, "Jesus,
knowing that all was now finished, said,
(to fulfill the Scripture) 'I thirst'"
(John 19:28). And "When Jesus had
received the sour wine, He said,
'It is finished,' and He bowed His head
and gave up His spirit" (John 19:30).
There is nothing left for us to pay. We
are free, and the doors of heaven are
open wide to us through Jesus' life,
death and resurrection.

Jesus offers His last confident prayer:
"Father, into Your hands I commit My
spirit" (Luke 23:46b).

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, on the cross You suffered
the wrath of God for all of our sins, and
paid the price in full. Receive our thanks
and gratitude for Your amazing sacrifice
and the life that is ours because of Your
death.        Amen.

Lutheran Hour Ministries