Sharing Love, Seeking Justice: Good Friday

April 18, 2025

Welcome to our 2025 series of Holy Week devotionals, a gift from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, eight days of devotions leading to the Feast of the Resurrection.

Good Friday

Reflection

So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross by himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.”

And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. _{John 19:16b-30, NRSVue}

Today, we stand at the foot of the cross. Good Friday is a day of paradox—sorrow and hope, suffering and redemption. In the shadows of Calvary, we remember the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus The Christ. Through the words of Isaiah, we hear of the Suffering Servant, bearing the iniquities of many, despised and rejected. His wounds are our healing, and His chastisement brings us peace (Isaiah 53:5).

Psalm 22 echoes the agony of Jesus on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These words, cried out by Jesus, remind us of the depths of His suffering and the burden of sin He bore. Yet even in the despair of that moment, there remains a trust in the Creator’s will.

The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus’ sacrifice opened a new and living way for us. Through His obedience and suffering, Jesus became the source of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9). Because of this, we can approach God with confidence, assured of God’s mercy and grace.

John’s Gospel takes us step by step through the Jesus’ Passion. We see His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. We hear the bitter cries, witness the humiliation, and feel the weight of the nails. Yet, we also glimpse the unwavering love that held Him to His convictions and to His cross. In the final words of our Lord, “It is finished,” we find the completion of God’s redemptive plan.

Reflection Questions:

How does Jesus’ sacrifice challenge your understanding of love and forgiveness?
In what ways can you respond to the gift of salvation in your daily life?
How can you extend the grace you’ve received to others around you?

May this Holy Friday be a time of reflection and renewal as we remember the cross and look forward to the resurrection.

– Micah L. McCreary
John Henry Livingston Professor of Theology
President of the Seminary

Prayer:
Gracious God, on this solemn day,
we remember the sacrifice of the Incarnate One.
We stand in awe of Jesus’ willingness to suffer for the cosmos.
Help us to understand the depth of Your love,
revealed through all events surrounding the cross.
May we carry the truth of Jesus’ sacrifice in our hearts,
living lives of gratitude and grace.
Through Jesus the Christ, our Redeemer, we pray.
Amen.