The Pain

John 19: 17-18, 28-30 (NIV) —

‘Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others – one on each side and Jesus in the middle… Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty’. A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished’. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.’

It is impossible to fully comprehend the magnitude of this moment.

A separation so fierce that it led Jesus to cry out in pain. A pain so excruciating that it led to death. A death so powerful that it shook the earth and broke open the rocks. (See Matthew 27: 50-53)

The magnitude of our sin required of Jesus an extravagance of surrender. The pain that caused him to cry out ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ is what was required to pave a way for the display of his glory.

Good Friday is the only day in the Christian calendar that we intentionally allow ourselves to sit in the pain. We weep with and for Jesus, the King of Kings, who broke himself on a cross in order to become the Saviour of the world – to save you and me.

Take a moment today, before the celebration of Sunday, to remember that all your freedom - your grace, your salvation, your joy - came at a cost…

PRAYER — Jesus, today we remember that you gave yourself as a sacrifice so that we could be free. Thank you for the price that you paid.