{"id":20735,"date":"2023-04-07T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-for-good-friday-2023"},"modified":"2023-04-07T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T05:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-for-good-friday-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-for-good-friday-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion for Good Friday 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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inspiration in your inbox<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Friday 7 April 2023 Good Friday <\/strong> <\/span> <\/p>\n
St Matthew 27: 1 – 56 <\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, \u2018I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.\u2019 But they said, \u2018What is that to us? See to it yourself.\u2019 Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, \u2018It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.\u2019 After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter\u2019s field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, \u2018And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter\u2019s field, as the Lord commanded me.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n
Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, \u2018Are you the King of the Jews?\u2019 Jesus said, \u2018You say so.\u2019 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, \u2018Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?\u2019 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.<\/p>\n
Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, \u2018Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?\u2019 For he realised that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, \u2018Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.\u2019 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, \u2018Which of the two do you want me to release for you?\u2019 And they said, \u2018Barabbas.\u2019 Pilate said to them, \u2018Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?\u2019 All of them said, \u2018Let him be crucified!\u2019 Then he asked, \u2018Why, what evil has he done?\u2019 But they shouted all the more, \u2018Let him be crucified!\u2019<\/p>\n
So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, \u2018I am innocent of this man\u2019s blood; see to it yourselves.\u2019 Then the people as a whole answered, \u2018His blood be on us and on our children!\u2019 <\/strong> So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.<\/p>\n
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor\u2019s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, \u2018Hail, King of the Jews!\u2019 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.<\/p>\n
As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, \u2018This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.\u2019<\/p>\n
Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, \u2018You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.\u2019 In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, \u2018He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, \u201cI am God\u2019s Son.\u201d\u2019 The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way.<\/p>\n
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o\u2019clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, \u2018Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?\u2019 that is, \u2018My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\u2019 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, \u2018This man is calling for Elijah.\u2019 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, \u2018Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.\u2019 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. <\/strong> Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, \u2018Truly this man was God\u2019s Son!\u2019 Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n
On Good Friday we recall Jesus\u2019 death on the Cross, an event central to our faith: a death so gruesome and so public, beyond our experience to comprehend fully its horror and significance. Yet, we strive to understand the extent of God\u2019s love for us all.<\/p>\n
The Gospel-writers wrote their accounts. For centuries, artists have depicted the Crucifixion in paint, stone and stained-glass. Similarly, musicians like Bach and Lloyd-Webber. And in film, we range from \u2018Godspell\u2019 [U-Certificate] to \u2018Passion of the Christ\u2019 [18-Certificate]. Good Friday\u2019s Lectionary reading is always from John\u2019s Gospel. While Matthew, Mark and Luke offer similar accounts, Matthew\u2019s account contains three unique elements (marked in bold).<\/p>\n
(1) vv.3-10 – All Gospels mention Judas\u2019 betrayal, but Matthew includes Judas\u2019 fate. \u201cJudas!\u201d This one word, his name, has become a synonym for betrayal. Betrayal cuts so deeply because it tears apart the trust in a relationship. Anyone who has been betrayed will be only too aware of the enduring pain and other powerful emotions.<\/p>\n
(2) v.25 \u2013 \u201cHis blood be on us and on our children!\u201d Herein lies a lesson in the dangers of taking a verse out of context: it has led to appalling Christian antisemitism. In Rowan Williams\u2019 words: \u201cThe most corrupt and murderous misreading of the Passion stories that has disfigured the Church’s record”. German theologian Luz calls it \u201credactional fiction\u201d, meaning that it is an attempt to explain Jerusalem\u2019s destruction in the year 70.<\/p>\n
(3) vv.51-53 \u2013 The earthquake is common in films depicting the Crucifixion, but not the dead being raised. As a linguist, I spotted that these verses contain passive verbs. Who tore the curtain? Who shook the ground? Who broke the rocks? Who broke open the tombs? Who raised the dead? As these things happen after Jesus\u2019 death, the beginning of the New Covenant in Jesus\u2019 blood, God is the agent. Matthew depicts a foretaste of resurrection life!<\/p>\n
Finally, the pagan Roman Centurion challenges us to believe, as he testifies to Jesus\u2019 divinity.<\/p>\n
Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n
Lord Jesus, our Loving Saviour, Your message to us is one of boundless love. This Good Friday, send Your Holy Spirit, that we might have a fresh experience encountering the familiar Scriptures. We pray for all who have been betrayed; forgive us when we misunderstand; give us strength and courage to believe and proclaim: \u201cTruly, You are the Son of God\u201d. Amen.<\/p>\n
Walt Johnson, Ordinand at Northern College and on placement in the Bolton & Salford Missional Partnership, Member at Wilbraham St Ninian\u2019s URC in Chorlton, Manchester<\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright \u00a9 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
inspiration in your inbox Friday 7 April 2023 Good Friday St Matthew 27: 1 – 56 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. … <\/p>\n
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