Devotional- April 18, 2025

On this Good Friday:

This is one of the holiest days in our faith tradition. The narrative from the Gospels recount the events in rather chilling words. 

After investigations with both Jewish and Roman authorities, Jesus is led out to be crucified.  One Gospel has him stumbling under the burden of the cross, and Simon of Cyrene is pressed into service to help him out. 

Soldiers mock him and place a crown of thorns on his head.  He is mocked by the Jewish authorities as well.

As Jesus dies, there is darkness, a great earthquake, the veil of the temple is torn in two, and those who are dead come out of their graves.  Jesus is taken down from the cross after his death, and placed in a borrowed tomb. 

The story is stark, horrific, and brutal. 

I think it is important to let it rest into our souls for a bit.  We can imagine what it was like for all those who had listened to him teach, saw him do miracles, shared meals, saw people healed. 

They thought it was over.  Let that rest into your soul until Sunday morning.

Peace be with you on this painful day. – Paul