Holy Friday (Good Friday)April 2, 1999
Unifying Theme: |
||
| Scripture | Theme | Hymns |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 52:13-53:12 | The prophet tells of the humble servant sacrificed | 501: O Thou Who Camest from Above |
| Psalm 22 | The psalmist gives the cry of the humble servant sacrificed | 355: Depth of Mercy |
| John 18:1-19:42 | Arrested, tried, crucified, died, all as it was prophesied. |
267: O Love, How Deep 287: O Love Divine, What Hast Thou Done 289: Ah, Holy Jesus 290: Go to Dark Gethsemane 294: Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed 297: Beneath the Cross of Jesus 298: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 299: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 301: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross |
| Hebrews
10:16-25 --or-- Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 |
When sins are forgiven, there is no need for more sacrifices | 623: Here, O My Lord, I See
Thee 682: All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night |
This isn't a featured hymn. In fact, it isn't about any hymn at all. As with the other pages during Holy Week, I had not planned to write anything. But I was touched and moved as I read once again the Psalm for today. Of all the things that Christ did during His life, of all the things that He said, His cry in the crucifixion story, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me," seems so inconsistent with the rest of His life and ministry. Didn't He expect His disciples to show more faith? Didn't He tell them that God would never forsake them? When He was on the cross, why didn't Christ show the same faith that He expected from His disciples?
In Psalm 22 you find the answer. When Christ cried out, he was quoting this Psalm. It is true that this Psalm begins with a cry of dispair, but it is so much more. This Psalm declares God's great works for His people. This Psalm acknowledges the unworthiness of the servant. This Psalm claims the promises of God. This Psalm praises God and shouts that praise to the whole world.
Christ was in pain, but He had not given up hope. Today, when we observe the crucifixion--the darkest day ever known to earth--remember that even in Christ's cry of despair, He was shouting the power and praise of God.
God bless you--
Lection at HymnSite.com
God bless you!
| Passages suggested are from The Revised Common Lectionary: Consultation on Common Texts (Abingdon Press, 1992) copyright © by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT), P.O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Reprinted with permission of CCT. |