Scripture Reading: Luke 23:1-53, Hebrews 10:10
Good Friday is a day when we practice holding many different emotions together. What we call in English “Good Friday” is called in other countries “Holy Friday” or “Black Friday” or “Long Friday.” All of them are appropriate names in their own way. It is a somber thing to think of the agonies Jesus suffered and at the same time a comforting thing to think that He undertook these sufferings for us—that He was not just a tragic victim of the forces of this world but a conquering King whose reign required suffering.
In churches that have Good Friday services, the preachers will often focus on one or more of the seven last words from the cross, the seven things that Jesus said while dying. In these seven sayings, gathered from across the four Gospels, Jesus quoted Psalms twice. These quotations seem remarkably different, and appropriately express the complicated emotions of this day. Matthew and Mark’s accounts of the crucifixion both say that Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” a quotation from Psalm 22:1 (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). They also say that Jesus gave a second loud cry immediately before his death (Matt 27:50, Mark 15:37), but they don’t give its contents. Only Luke includes the saying, “Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit” (Luke 23:46), a quotation from Psalm 31:5, one of the last of the traditional seven sayings.
In these different perspectives, we have on Jesus’s lips expressions of forsakenness and of trust and commitment. Neither cancels out the other, but together they express the range of what Jesus experienced on the cross. Always one with His Father, He experienced desolation. Always surrendering His Father, He trusted to the end.
Christians are united with Jesus in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:5). In these two cries, we can see some of what a life modeled after Christ looks like. Peter went on to spell this out in his first letter, using the same Greek word as Jesus does in Luke 23:46: “So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good” (1Peter 4:19 emphasis added). God is faithful and worthy of our trust even when suffering comes.
In “The Hands of the Father,” George MacDonald writes, “The last act of our Lord in thus commending his spirit at the close of his life, was only a summing up of what he had been doing all his life. He had been offering this sacrifice, the sacrifice of himself, all the years, and in thus sacrificing he had lived the divine life.” Some of Jesus’s last words before His death, entrusting Himself to His Father, were aligned His entire life. Let us also entrust ourselves to our loving Father, even in the midst of suffering, confident that He is able to conquer even death.
Written by Elliot Ritzema
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109 thoughts on "Good Friday"
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Amen
It is so difficult to wrap our heads around the magnitude of suffering Jesus endured and to then further know He did this for me(us). Sobering. Overwhelming. All so I don’t have to carry the weight of my sin and have the promise of eternity.
Thank you Jesus. Thank you. May I be worthy of bearing the name of Christ follower❤️
Well said!
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What an amazing but also heavy day. Praying for you all today. ❤️
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I pray that I would accept Jesus’ sacrifice and live under his righteousness. I am accepted by him, and that is the only acceptance I need.
-Truly I tell you, TODAY you will be with me in paradise.
-Into your hands I entrust my Spirit.
-Joseph was looking FORWARD to the Kingdom of God.
-We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, ONCE…for ALL time!
-God is faithful and worthy of our trust even when suffering comes. Let us entrust ourselves to our loving father, even in the midst of suffering, confident that He is able to conquer even death!
Look forward. Lift your head. Stay focused on Jesus.
Thank you Jesus for it all. Thank you for the suffering you endured that ensures our future with you. For your promises that are tried and true. For your perfect plan of redemption.
At my dad’s funeral 5 of his friends responded to the message and said they need to make changes in their life and get serious with Jesus. They are coming to church with my brother and I on Sunday. Please pray for them. Ernie, Ricky, Keith, BT, Tony.
Praying, Kristy. What a tribute for your dad’s memory. So sorry for your loss, thanks for sharing your thoughts and this update ❤️❤️
yes, amen!!!
Kristy, praise the Lord for the testimony that was evident in your Dad’s life and the gospel message spoken at his service. May the hearts of these friends be moved to seek relationship with Jesus and you and your family continue to be comforted in this deep sorrow ❤️
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Thank you Jesus ❤️
“God is faithful and worthy of our trust even when suffering comes.”
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Always faithful
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Always worthy
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…therefore, we can trust Him.
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Blessings to all my sisters as we approach Resurrection Sunday. ❤️
Amen❤️
I really can’t add anything to what you all have shared other than to say I am always sad about how Jesus was treated! It breaks my heart! But… I know Sunday is coming! I know the devil hates Easter because we remember the victory we have in Jesus! Which reminds me of the old hymn, “Victory in Jesus!”
Praying for all! Thank you for your prayers for baby Levi! No updates, still struggling with feeding, still in the NICU. He is a beautiful baby!
Praying for Seth and Victor and Foster Mom and all the others! Love you Sisters!
“God is faithful and worthy of our trust even when suffering comes.” “Let us also entrust ourselves to our loving Father, EVEN in the midst of suffering, confident that He is able to conquer even death.” Now that’s OUR JESUS! Thank you Elliot Ritzema for this devotional on this Good Friday!
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❤️ Jesus, help us to follow your example of surrender to the Father, in all things.
If it’s not good, God’s not done. Thank you, Jesus, for this day that reminds us of exactly that. We can be joyful in the waiting knowing He works all things for good!
God loved the world so much that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes will have eternal life.
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God loved/loves. He is Love.
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God loves us…even those who are hard to love. Even those who reject Him.
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And He gave. He gave ALL! And He keeps giving. He sacrifices His very self.
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For us. So we would not perish. So we could live eternally with Him.
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All we have to do is believe- believe God is as good as He says He is.
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God’s love changed everything!
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Walking in gratitude this Good Friday. ❤️
Yes, GramsieieSue
Walking in the rhythm of His righteousness.
Amen!! I keep trying to remember to love the Hard to love…and those who refuse…Just as he does!!
How appropriate this is for today. We are burying our senior pastor’s 23 yr old daughter today after a tragic car accident. She was a beautiful witness and example of Christ. The last paragraph of the devotional thoughts sum up our hope in Christ and that we will see our loved one again. Praise be to God—Jesus conquered death!
Praying for this sweet family and all who loved her! ❤️
How tragic. Praying for this grieving family. ❤️
So very sad, our pastor has a beautiful 23 year old daughter. Praying for the family.
Praying for this family and community. ❤️
That is heartbreaking and my biggest fear with a 24 year old. Prayers for this family and church family.
Absolutely heartbreaking! I will be praying for all of those that love her. Life is so fragile, we truly just never know. Breaks my heart for this family:( Thank you Jesus for the promise of eternal life!
Oh…what an absolute heartbreak. May God’s presence and comfort surround and be near ❤️
Thankful that by His stripes we are healed.
Ladies, would you please be praying for my mom-she is in the midst of having biopsies done for masses found in her breasts. We are praying for health and healing, also peace and hope during this time!
Praying for good test results for your mom and peace for her and your family! ❤️
I’m praying for you, Katherine and for your sweet mom. I pray for overwhelming sense of peace in this time but also miraculous healing.
Prayers for your mom! ❤️
Hope. Health. Healing
Praying for your mom Katherine. Good test results and peace filled with hope during the waiting. ❤️
Such a great worry and sorry your Mom going through this. Praying❤️
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Sunday is coming. (I had to prepare my Easter bulletin boards at preschool on Wednesday… it seemed wrong to be rejoicing in His resurrection before Good Friday even arrived.)
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I celebrate His resurrection daily, but it just felt wrong, you know?
“Long Friday”, indeed, Elliot Ritzema!
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In the ESV and NIV versions, which are the two versions I like best, Jesus says “I COMMIT my spirit.” I like ENTRUST better. The following is from Merriam-Webster…
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entrust
verb
en·trust in-ˈtrəst en-
variants or less commonly intrust
in-ˈtrəst
entrusted also intrusted; entrusting also intrusting; entrusts also intrusts
Synonyms of entrust
transitive verb
1
:to confer a trust on
especially : to deliver something in trust to
2
: to commit to another with confidence
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The word ENTRUST jumped out at me on the podcast too. It seems to me that to COMMIT is Jesus giving His spirit over, whereas to ENTRUST it gives it to God for safekeeping. Semantics, I know. And I do know too that Jesus and God (and the HS, of course) are one God.
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Just something to ponder on this “Long Friday”.
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Remember how He was thinking of us on this good, good day.
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“Remember how He was thinking of us on this good, good day.” Love that. ❤️
HE is faithful and good even during our hard times and suffering.
Amen
Good Friday-
Good? Certainly not at the time of the disciples, as they watch the nightmare happen as they take Jesus away, the crowds gathering, the people shouting “Crucify him, Crucify him!” Going from bad to worse. But there was hope for a moment when Pilot offered a choice. But all screamed against Jesus. They must have been shattered to their core. Then seeing him tortured further and put on that cross. Hanging there, dying slowly. Were those that fled, all but John, watching from afar? I doubt they were thinking about the promised resurrection…they were thinking “how is this happening,” he is the Savior….isn’t he? Has this all been wrong? Isn’t he going to save us…and himself? I wonder what they thought when it went dark, and the loud noise of the veil being torn?
Good Friday…is good. It is good that Jesus died for me. It is good that He was the sacrifice for my sins. It is so very, very good that I have been restored, redeemed, and made new! The old is gone, I am sanctified by my Savior, that died on that old rugged cross! It is better than good…it is Well! It is well.
I too must bear that cross, in this world, before he comes again, must endure the curse, but with eyes that see, a soul that knows and believes. The hope that is in him, my faith and joy, my peace.
Lord…hold me close on this Good Friday. I wait in earnest, but must complete the mission, telling of You. For in this time, such as this, we have a purpose. Not to have riches and legacy, but to bring more to heaven! To share what he does in our lives, the miracles and healing, the purpose and destination of eternity! How can we keep quiet?!! We don’t share in church…we share in our neighborhoods, workplace, homeless parks, prisons, and families. Go….until the whole world hears!! And since now the whole world can hear like never before with internet and travel….time is short!
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Beautifully spoken, Rhonda! ❤
I love this. Thank you Rhona ❤️
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So good Rhonda! Amen!❤️
“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!” Thank you, Jesus! ❤
I love that hymn! ❤️ Thank you for reminding me that I do.
If you haven’t heard this Phil Wickham song yet, it’s a great one for today: https://youtu.be/PJeiyCbVn6k?si=oRwSQa729Qz-Zkcw
Jesus,
Today I pause at the foot of the cross.
I see Your wounds, and I remember —
this was for me.
You were silent before Your accusers,
merciful to those who mocked You,
and forgiving even as You bled.
Thank You for enduring the cross for my sake.
Thank You for loving me to the end.
Help me carry my own cross with humility,
to forgive others as You forgave,
and to live a life that reflects Your grace.
In the silence of this day,
teach my heart to trust, to surrender, and to wait in hope.
Amen.
Amen❤️
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Yes, Kimberly.
He loved us unto the end, death on the cross.
By His resurrection, a new beginning.
Good Friday Shes!
My husband and I have put an offer in on a house near his work. This house has been on our minds for a while, but the experience of trying to buy it has been quite odd. There will be two other offers on the house, as well, and we might know even today if our offer will be accepted.
Would you please pray for God’s will to be done? That we will have a sense of peace about the decision whatever it may be? That if we have to go back to the drawing board we will sense God’s direction?
Thank you all so much.
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Praying with you, Meagan! Been there! ❤
Praying! ❤️
Meagan,
Prayers for a sense of peace, a time for a new place.
Praying Meagan ❤️
Yes Meagan…prayers for the right decision for your little family! I bet you are ready to just be there with your husband! Hopefully you will be together for Easter!
Jesus,
Today I pause at the foot of the cross.
I see Your wounds, and I remember —
this was for me.
You were silent before Your accusers,
merciful to those who mocked You,
and forgiving even as You bled.
Thank You for enduring the cross for my sake.
Thank You for loving me to the end.
Help me carry my own cross with humility,
to forgive others as You forgave,
and to live a life that reflects Your grace.
In the silence of this day,
teach my heart to trust, to surrender, and to wait in hope.
Amen.
Beautoful. Amen
Amen ❤️
Yes, Kimberly.
A trusting heart trained on you.
Thank you Jesus for committing yourself to a cross for our sin & shame! We need you Lord! There’s a newer Christian artist named Josiah Queen who has a song titled “I am Barrabas”. The lyrics say “I am Barabbas, You took upon my cross, I was that prisoner, Till you bought my bond with blood”.
I just heard that song yesterday! So good!
The flesh of His tablernacle was torn and shredded as He was paraded down the Via Dolorosa. His enemies thinking that they had silenced this would-be Messiah.
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O Lord, have mercy. Christ have Mercy.
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Agreeing with Mr. Ritzama,
“Let us also entrust ourselves to our loving Father, even in the midst of suffering, confident that He is able to conquer even death.”
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KRISTY – I’m so sorry for your loss.
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Praying we all stop and sit in the scandalous death of Jesus today.
Thank you, Kelly, for your thoughtful words.
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Yes Kelly
Sit. Silently. In the suffering.
Today is another ‘piece of life’ (CEE GEE ❤️), a sobering one. Thank you, Jesus. ❤️
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Jesus let my heart truly receive the depth of Your sacrifice for me, for all, on the cross. Thank You Father for the sacrifice of Your so. So that I could be saved. In Jesus name, Amen
Jesus came to save us from out sins. We now how the story ends. Thankful for Sunday.✝️
Lord Jesus there aren’t enough words to express my gratitude for your sacrifice and love for us. I thank you for loving us so much that even though you asked for the cup to pass from you, you still went to the cross. Thank you for the gift of salvation! (Ephesians 2:8)
We will all suffer in this life, help us Jesus to lean on you and draw closer to you.
Yes, Teresa E
He knew death. So we might know life.
I wasn’t there with my grandmother when she died, but I have no doubt, I would have been on her mind in her last days and hours.
I was with Julee when she died and she spoke of love and memories in her last days.
When my Daddy died, I was not there, but I spoke to him, a few days before and His last words to me were “where are you Chris? I miss you.
When my mother was in her last hours here on earth, she was in a coma, but her last words to us were the tears that run as we each told her how much we loved and thanked her for all she had given for us.
My stepfather last words to me were to look after my siblings, and that though, I had believed he didn’t like me, he told me he had always loved me!
As these Beloved of mine are now entrusted to the Father God, I can see no two are the same, except for one thing… Each carried love, each carried heart, and good, whether it be in thought, presence, word or action, the overriding message is love..
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BUT GOD..
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He offered His Son, in His message of love to us. His Son who would give His life, go through the harshest of sorrow, pain and suffering to bring us into alignment with our Father God. He would mutter words so heart breaking on our behalf, wear a crown of thorns for our iniquity, take the whipping for our wrong doing, carry the cross that was ours to carry, have nails through His hands, for our redemption, His feet for our salvation, He took and paid a price for us. When all was done, He uttered the words that marks the end of anything and everything we may experience in life.. ” It is finished “.
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I have done it for you.
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You no longer need to be afraid..
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I have overcome the world.
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My life I give for yours.
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There is NOTHING you need do now,except to entrust your life, hopes, dreams, pains, sorrows, struggles and all to the Father, for I have made a way for you..
It is well!
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Tears roll as I write. I am in awe. I am ashamed. I am thankful. I am a sinner, BUT the Grace, forgiveness, mercy I’ve extended to and for me, gives me a HOPE and a confidence to entrust my ALL to our loving Father God..
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AMEN.
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It’s a Good Friday.. But, Sunday is coming!
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Be blessed dear hearts, be blessed!❤
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So moving and beautiful, sister, thank you ❤️
Love you, Sister Tina!
Sending hugs, dear sister! ❤
Good morning, i have only commented once or twice in all the years i’ve been coming here. Tina, your words brought tears to my eyes! Beautifully written. Sunday is coming…
Amen, Sweet Tina, Amen.
Thank you Tina. So beautifully said. Thankful for the hope in this Good Friday. Love you! Have a blessed day.❤️
Amen!❤️
Hosanna in the highest
John 15:13 NIV
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
This song seems to be stuck in my head this week, Ladies, but it bears repeating – Amazing love, how can it be!!??
Sunday is coming!
And now it’s stuck in my mind but I love it and such a perfect song for this Good Friday.❤️
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Good Friday Shes
Shrouded in suffering & sorrow & sacrifice.
The Son who knew no sin, bore our sins.
The lowly Servant broken, to save our souls.
The Lord among us, in all our terrible humanity.
Obedient to the point of death.
A violent death. On a cross.
I like to imagine myself among the women
who watched, wept & waited.
Overcome by what they heard & saw.
Wondering if this were the end.
But, oh, what happened next.
Friday is Good, but Sunday is coming.
GWINETH52, so Good, you wrote it out twice!
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Thank you dear friend!❤
Yes, Tina
Fat, Fast fingers!
A “Yikes” moment!
Thanks for the “indulgence”!!
Sunday is coming! Well worth the wait!
Amen, GWINETH52, amen and thank you. ❤️
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Amen Gwineth❤️
Worth saying twice! Amen and Amen!!
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Good Friday Shes
Shrouded in suffering & sorrow & sacrifice.
The Son who knew no sin, bore our sins.
The lowly Servant broken, to save our souls.
The Lord among us, in all our terrible humanity.
Obedient to the point of death.
A violent death. On a cross.
I like to imagine myself among the women
who watched, wept & waited.
Overcome by what they heard & saw.
Wondering if this were the end.
But, oh, what happened next.
Friday is Good, but Sunday is coming.