On friday evening the Seymour Street prayer room was opened for 24 hours of prayer by a time of prayer and praise led by SNASS. So I thought I would share here my reflection on Good Friday that I shared there having read John 19...
Why is Good Friday called Good Friday? I would be surprised if most people haven't thought about that at some stage or other.
There is no more humiliating death than crucifixion - hanging practically naked, stripped of all covering, stripped of all human dignity, strung up high against the skyline just outside the city walls, exposed for all to see.
It was a terrible death that was excruciatingly painful and long drawn out causing absolute agony before slowly suffocating.
Then Jesus died - releasing his spirit.
But what happened then?
There is a line in the song 'The Wonder of your Cross' by Robin Mark that says...
"Were heaven's praises silent in those hours of darkness?
Your Holy Spirit brooding round that empty throne?"
These lines catch me everytime I hear or sing that song...was there quiet in heaven, was there mourning after Christ had died and descended into hell or were they preparing for a celebration because as the song goes on to say...
"Until the declaration 'He is RIsen', You are Risen Jesus,
He is not dead, behold He lives for evermore."
And that is our hope, because of that painful and excruciating death that was experienced in our place we can know and have the peace of Christ, the peace that passes all understanding in the knowledge that we too will share in the celebrations in heaven as we receive eternal life.
Why is Good Friday called Good Friday? I would be surprised if most people haven't thought about that at some stage or other.
There is no more humiliating death than crucifixion - hanging practically naked, stripped of all covering, stripped of all human dignity, strung up high against the skyline just outside the city walls, exposed for all to see.
It was a terrible death that was excruciatingly painful and long drawn out causing absolute agony before slowly suffocating.
Then Jesus died - releasing his spirit.
But what happened then?
There is a line in the song 'The Wonder of your Cross' by Robin Mark that says...
"Were heaven's praises silent in those hours of darkness?
Your Holy Spirit brooding round that empty throne?"
These lines catch me everytime I hear or sing that song...was there quiet in heaven, was there mourning after Christ had died and descended into hell or were they preparing for a celebration because as the song goes on to say...
"Until the declaration 'He is RIsen', You are Risen Jesus,
He is not dead, behold He lives for evermore."
And that is our hope, because of that painful and excruciating death that was experienced in our place we can know and have the peace of Christ, the peace that passes all understanding in the knowledge that we too will share in the celebrations in heaven as we receive eternal life.
