Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford reminds us that day-by-day the liturgies of this Holy Week take us ultimately to Calvary and to the foot of the Cross. He writes: “On that first Good Friday, only a few people could do it. Those who promised most were first to flee. But let us be those who stand there today, not understanding but standing under in order to understand. Standing with empty hands and hopeful hearts. For it is only under the cross that we will begin to comprehend its … [Read more...]
Good Friday
The Arrest
It is easy to forget how strange it is, how incredibly counter-cultural it is, to confess that you are a Christian. On one hand it is easy enough to hold the view (if only privately) that it is a good and helpful way to make our lives more meaningful and purposeful as we strive to live good lives; that it offers a certain sort of comfort in times of suffering and some sort of hope beyond the grave. But then along comes Good Friday when the church makes us sit for 1, 2 or maybe even 3 hours (!) … [Read more...]
Good Friday Part III: The Finish
“When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30) As he hung there on the cross, that torturous Roman instrument of death, the weight of his body bearing down on those nails that pierced his hands and feet, beaten and bloodied, he inhaled and with his final breath said, “It is finished.” I tell you, this small phrase is so vast and so deep that its treasures will never be exhausted. More was said in this one breath than … [Read more...]