Seven Last Words of Jesus
Seven Last Words of Jesus: GOOD FRIDAY
Traditions
Growing up, our family never celebrated Good Friday. That’s right. Our church was very free from traditions. While I loved the Lord Jesus, I never considered taking an entire afternoon and remembering the death of Christ. After all, this is part of the beauty of the Gospel, there is freedom for different kinds of traditions or no traditions. It’s all about Christ. It’s all about his love.
Take time today, to remember the Passover and the day that the Lord Jesus Christ offered himself as our Passover lamb.
I know that for some of you who have grown up in very traditional Christianity, you might find it shocking to think that there are Christians who don’t take a Friday once a year and spend three hours in church. But, that’s ok.
My First Good Friday Service
It was not until I met my wife that I ever heard of people spending three hours in a church service on Good Friday. She asked me if I was going to a Good Friday Service. My response was, What’s that? I had heard of all night prayer meetings, but the thought of spending three hours in church on Friday was a little too much. That was not what I would call a good Friday.
Anyway, I went along to my first Good Friday service, when I was in India. It was fun. I realized there was a tradition of gathering, and thinking soberly on the passion of Christ, something I have since found to be very worthy practice.
The Seven Last Words of Jesus
As part of the Good Friday service, it is common to mix singing and prayer with teaching on the last words of Jesus on the cross. That it, while Jesus hung on the cross, dying, he spoke. These are the words that the Bible records.
1. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)
2. Today, you will be with me in Paradise. (Luke 23:43)
3. Woman, behold your son … son, your mother. (John 19:26,27)
4. My God. My God. Why have you abandoned me? (Matthew 26:47)
5. I thirst! (John 19:28)
6. It is finished. (John 19:30)
7. Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. (Luke 23:46)
