5 Ways to Stay with Jesus on Good Friday

Lenten Devotional Series Day 45.  Today’s reading is the Passion according to John.

As Lent draws to a close, many of us are tempted to ignore or disregard the sufferings of Jesus.  On this Good Friday, let us stay at his side and participate in his suffering so that we may share in his glory (Rom 8:17).  To that end, I want to suggest 5 ways to stay with Jesus on Good Friday.  These are simple, tangible ways to open the soul to the presence of Christ. They are not ways to earn God’s favor.

1. Turn off your distractions.  As much as possible, disconnect from the digital world until after the Easter Vigil.  Curtail your use of email, Facebook, web browsing, NPR, television, and entertainment.  Turn off your PDA.  Clear your life of mental clutter so you can hear the voice of the Lord.

2. Reflect on Jesus’ love for you in Isaiah 53 and John 19. Every part of Jesus’ suffering was a willing act of love for you. Stated in a different way, Jesus’ love for you was particular and tangible: his rejection, unjust treatment, betrayal, scourging, bodily wounds, spiritual alienation, inhumane torture, and shameful death by crucifixion were expressions of love – for you.  Observe and take personal interest in the details of Jesus’ death in Isaiah 53 and John 19 – not to feel morbid, but to know his love in greater measure.

3. Pray for your enemies.  Jesus had many haters on Good Friday.  They were glad to pour out their contempt and violence upon him as they watched him die.  Jesus responded to all this hate by praying on their behalf, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:36).  Jesus interceded for his betrayers and executioners.  Who are your enemies?  Stay by Jesus’ side this Good Friday by interceding on their behalf.

4. Be generous to the poor.  Good Friday was an act of scandalous wealth redistribution: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9).  Our spiritual riches in Christ give us the freedom to hold our time and possessions loosely.  Spend your Good Friday lingering in conversation with the relationally poor, sharing your possessions with the materially poor, and planning acts of hospitality for those who are family-poor.

5. Keep consumption to a minimum. Good Friday is an appropriate day to fast in some way, and in so lash ourselves to the side of Jesus.  We receive this practice from the ancient church, and in our lack of bodily satisfaction participate in spiritual union with Christ.  In his book Ancient-Future Time, Robert Webber explains the purpose behind fasting before Easter: “Unless we actually subject our bodies and stomach to a meaningful discipline, the actual sense of experiencing Christ’s suffering will elude us.”

None of these practices will impress God, nor are they the sum total of our spiritual life as Christians.  However, these practices are appropriate for disciples of Jesus who are willing to suffer alongside their Teacher.  If we would celebrate Jesus on Easter, let us suffer with him on Good Friday.

The Collect of the Day. Almighty God, look down in mercy on this your family, for which your Son Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and given up into the hands of sinful men, and to suffer death upon the cross; for now he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever, Amen.