Good Friday prayer of consolation
Written by Lynette Kittle
Bible reading:
“God, being essentially God, did not consider equality with God to be used for his own benefit. Rather, he emptied himself by taking on the very nature of a servant and being made in the likeness of a human. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross!” – Philippians 2:6-8
Listen or read below:
We sing songs like “The Wonderful Cross,” but at the time, that didn’t seem great to the family, believers, and friends who watched Jesus suffer and endure such obvious humiliation to die such a public death.
Their souls were filled with great sadness, suffering and fear. Because, unlike us, they did not yet know the glorious outcome of the Lord’s suffering. They could not rest in knowing that Resurrection Sunday would come…all was not lost.
But because of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, we have the comfort, hope, and assurance of knowing that those who believe in Jesus and die will also live. As Romans 6:8 says, “If we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”
Jesus’ suffering begins
Jesus’ suffering began in the garden, a quiet and peaceful place where he prayed for God’s will for his life. While suffering, his body was under tremendous physical, emotional and spiritual stress.
His suffering began even before he was hung on the cross, as he looked ahead to his coming death and all that he would endure. Matthew 26:39 says, “A little further on, Jesus fell with his face to the earth and prayed, ‘Father, if it is possible, please take this cup from me; not as I will, but as you will.'”
In Matthew 26:42 Jesus asked God again. “Jesus went a second time and prayed, “Father, if I cannot take away this cup unless I drink, your will be done.”
Luke 22:44 further details the depth of Jesus’ suffering as he prayed. “And while he was suffering, Jesus prayed more fervently, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the earth.”
After Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested in the garden, Matthew 26:59-60 describes what happened next, as Jesus suffered silently before the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.
“The chief priests and all the Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus, so that they could put him to death. But although many false witnesses came forward, none were found. But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, “We charge you under the oath of the living God. Tell us whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
After Jesus appeared before the high priest and the Roman governor Pilate, he was taken away to be crucified and endured further suffering. Matthew 27:27-31 describes how Jesus was stripped naked, mocked, spat on, and beaten.
“Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus to the governor’s office, and gathered all the soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. Then they twisted a crown of thorns together and put it on his head. They put a staff in their right hands. Then they knelt before him and mocked him. “Hail, King of the Jews!” They said. They spat on Jesus and took a staff and struck him over the head over and over again. After they mocked Jesus, they took off his cloak and put on Jesus’ own clothes. Then they took him to be crucified. ”
Jesus surrenders his spirit
Matthew 27:45-46 tells us that Jesus hung on the cross from noon until 3 p.m., when darkness covered the whole earth. Then he cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
John 19:30 records that after being offered sour wine vinegar, “Jesus tasted it and said, ‘It is finished.'” Then he bowed his head and renounced his spirit. ”
Jesus’ last words say it all. The penalty for sin was paid by Jesus’ suffering and perfect sacrifice on the cross. Hebrews 10:10 reveals the source of comfort on Good Friday. “And by His will we have been made holy once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ.”
Let’s pray:
Dear father,
We receive the comfort you provide through the finished work of Jesus on the cross.
As 2 Corinthians 4:10 declares, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we “always carry around in our bodies the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies.”
Soften our hearts today with your compassion for those who do not yet know you. Lead us to share your comfort with them, telling them how Jesus suffered for us and gave up His Spirit so that we might be resurrected with Him.
Like Jesus, help us every day to humbly submit to your will. Teach us to trust in your leadership, knowing that your path always leads to life.
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/artplus
Lynette Kittle is married and has four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her work has been published in Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and elsewhere. She holds a master’s degree in communications from Regent University and is an associate producer at Soul Check TV.
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