Christian Reflection and Prayer

Good Friday

Scripture:

Read Luke 23:44-49.
TEXT: (Jesus said) "Father, into Your hands I
commit My spirit" (see Luke 23:46).

Many supernatural events occur at Jesus' death.
The first is a darkness that covered the whole land
from midday until three in the afternoon. This
darkness indicates God's judgment, as Jesus is
punished for the sins of the whole world.

At 3 p.m. a second miracle takes place in the
temple. The thick curtain dividing the two rooms of
the temple is torn in two, from top to bottom. This
curtain represents our separation from God on
account of our sins. Throughout the Old Testament
only one person could pass through it-the high priest.
But now God's Son-our great High Priest-has torn
down the dividing barrier, so all who believe in Jesus
have direct access to God the Father forever.

At this same moment Jesus cries out with a loud
voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit."
Jesus wants everyone to hear His intense satisfaction
and joy because peace with God has now been won
for all. Now that He has finished the work for which He
was born, Jesus commends His spirit into His Father's
hands.

Then the third miracle takes place. Immediately after
uttering this loud cry, Jesus dies. The Roman centurion
knows crucified criminals don't die this way. Their lungs
slowly fill with fluid, and their last moments are desperate
gasps for air. There is no way Jesus should be able to
utter a loud cry the moment before He dies. Thinking of
the unnatural darkness, the unnatural way Jesus died,
and all the injustices Jesus suffered, he says, "Certainly
this man was innocent."

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, when You completed Your earthly course
You committed Your spirit into Your Father's keeping.
Give me confidence that I am safe in Your hands now
and forever. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Maundy Thursday

Scripture

Read Luke 23:35-43.
TEXT: "Jesus, remember me when You come into
Your Kingdom" (see Luke 23:42).

Now we turn to the two criminals crucified with Jesus.
The first asks, "Are You notthe Christ? Save Yourself
and us!" He wants Jesus to be the Christ, but this is
only for his own sinful purposes. He wants to cheat
justice and escape his suffering and death, but not
to amend his sinful life.

But the second criminal looks at Jesus and sees
something no one else has been able to see. The
Jewish leaders look at Jesus and see a man who
can't possibly be a Savior-He can't even save
Himself! The Roman soldiers see a powerless king.
The other criminal sees a powerless Messiah, but
this criminal looks through the crown of thorns, the
blood, sweat and tears and sees God's Messiah,
the promised King. He asks Jesus to remember
him on Judgment Day and not to bar him out of His
Kingdom because of his life of sin.

As wonderful a confession as we see in the criminal's
rebuke and prayer, we see something even more
wonderful in Jesus' reply. Not only on the distant Day
of Judgment will Jesus remember the dying thief, but
this very day his sufferings will cease, and he will be
with Christ in paradise forever.

The repentant criminal asked Jesus to remember him.
This night in Holy Communion Jesus asks us to
remember Him, to remember the sacrifice He made,
so we may live. He gives us His body, which He gave
unto death for our sins. He gives us His blood poured
out, so we might be forgiven and inherit the paradise
He has opened to all who will believe in Him.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, You forgave a despised criminal and
promised him eternal life. Forgive my sins and
remember me when You come in glory. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

Holy Wednesday

Scripture:

Read Luke 23:32-34.
TEXT: And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for
they know not what they do"
(see Luke 23:34).

Jesus is not going to die alone. Pilate ordered two
criminals to die with Him. When they finally reach the
execution site we read that Jesus is crucified
between the two. In that one word "crucified," the
Scriptures spare us the horrible details, and carry
forward Jesus' charge: "Do not weep for Me."

Now, as the climax of His suffering is reached and
incredible pain racks His body, the soldiers are casting
lots to divide His clothing. Jesus turns to His Father in
prayer. But once again He is not praying for Himself,
not seeking divine retribution on His foes, or even
justice for Himself-He is pleading with His Father to
forgive those who have put Him on this cross. They do
not know what they are doing.

But Jesus is not only praying for the Roman soldiers,
Pontius Pilate, Herod Antipas, the Jewish leaders, the
temple guard, Peter and Judas-He is praying for all the
people whose sins He is carrying, including you and me.
So often we commit our sins without giving a second
thought to the wrath we are incurring, or the sufferings
Jesus must endure to save us from them. We don't
know what we are doing either.

But God the Father can't simply ignore His wrath at our
sins. Nor can He pretend they never took place. His
holiness demands that sinners be punished. For the
Father to be able to forgive us, Jesus knows He must
suffer the torment of hell in our place. He asks His
Father to pour His fiery wrath on Him instead.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, in our sin we don't know what we are doing.
Yet You willingly took on Yourself our guilt and Your
Father's punishment. Make us aware of our guilt that we
may repent and trust You alone as our Savior. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)