Luke 23:44-47 – It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" (ESV)

Good Friday is the most sombre day of the Christian year. Jesus died on the cross. It is a day when we can sing, "O come and mourn with me awhile".

It was my first time leading a Good Friday service. The centrepiece in the sanctuary was an eight-foot cross, not shiny and polished, but rough, with seven nails protruding from it. At a certain point in the service, I was going to invite all in the congregation to write their names on a bulletin insert that said, "I, ________, declare that Jesus Christ suffered and died for my sins." Each was then to come forward and place their name on one of the nails.

Before the service began, the organist came into the church with her gown on. She told me that she had put on some old clothes which were somewhat dirty and tattered. It did not matter, as her gown would cover them up.

The service began, and we sang the traditional hymns of crucifixion. Following the sermon, it was time to come to the cross. I invited my parishioners to come forward and spend time at the cross and put their names on it. Before I completed the instructions, the organist threw her gown to the floor and was the first one on her knees before the cross. With tears in her eyes, she placed her name on one of the nails and prayed.

I will never forget that moment. It did not matter what she looked like, or what others might think of her choice of clothing that day. What mattered was that she came before her crucified Lord and acknowledged that He died for her.

We may think that we are too dirty inside to come to the cross of Jesus. We may think that the cross is for really bad people, and we don't need to bow down before our crucified Lord. But Jesus died for everyone. He died for you and for me. We are all sinners. We need to confess our sins before Him and receive the forgiveness that He offers. God so loved the world; He so loves us that His act of selfless love will change our lives forever.

Attend the church of your choice today. Bow before the cross of Jesus Christ and experience the sacrifice and pain that He endured for your salvation.

O come and mourn with me awhile;
O come ye to the Saviour's side;
O come, together let us mourn;
Jesus, our Lord, is crucified.
       – Frederick William Faber

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I lay my sins at the foot of Your cross. Forgive me and set me free to love and serve You. Amen.

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About the author:

David Hooper <theskypilot@pm.me>
Prescott, Ontario, Canada
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