St Mary’s Burton Latimer 2020
Good Friday Personal Devotion
FIRST READING : The Garden of Gethsemane John 18 : 1-11
PRAYER: Dear Lord, give pardon, strength and hope, healing and peace to all who look death in the face at this time. Amen
SECOND READING : from Caiaphas to Pilate John 18 : 28-40
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, transform the hearts of those who make a profit from their victims and whose hearts are hardened by their work. Amen
THIRD READING : Pilate, the mockery and beatings John 19 : 1-16
PRAYER: Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our
trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
FOURTH READING : Jesus carries His cross through Jerusalem and the crucifixion John 19 : 16-30
PRAYER: Open the minds of those who are indifferent to the meaning of suffering and death in others so that they and we may be willing to help others carry the crosses they bear to the glory of your name. Amen
REFLECTION – The CENTURION picture
© David Sandell 2019
This picture is a window to consider the love Jesus has for humanity as seen through the testimony of the Centurion who oversaw his crucifixion.
Crucifixions were not jobs for the squeamish. Centurions had to stand watch while men died slowly and painfully on their crosses. They would have gotten hardened to the experience to survive.
BUT Jesus’ death was different. There was something different about Jesus that shook this Centurion. The question is: What was there about Jesus’ death that was different?
We read from bible that the Centurion overheard Jesus say on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Never, ever, would he have heard that before; cursing, crying, screaming innocence maybe yes, but not that.
When the Centurion, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
According to Church tradition, the Centurions name was Longinus. After the crucifixion and burial of Jesus he and his soldiers were present at the Resurrection..
Having come to faith in Jesus, the soldiers were baptised by the apostles and decided to leave military service. Longinus left Judea to testify about Jesus in his native land Cappadocia (now modern day Turkey), and his two comrades followed him.
Their testimonies along with the disciples and those who witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus changed hearts and minds of ordinary people and in time the Emperor of Rome himself! Christianity began quickly to spread throughout the Roman Empire and over 2000 years later it is a global faith. Jesus is still alive and ministering his love to us through the Holy Spirit.
Yet many Christians still cannot worship freely in the world and today we share in their plight in some different yet related way this year. As we are having to worship God alone and behind closed doors without being able to enjoy the beauty of each other’s company and our ancient church building due to the corona virus we would do well to pray for them and for us.
As we look intently at the Centurions quizzical expression may we see it as our own.
Will we ever again take for granted our brothers and sisters in Christ? Will our petty gripes hold any weight when this is finally over? What is truly important to us? How important is our faith when facing uncertainty and experiencing loneliness? What would we give or give up to actually be in church today, Easter Sunday or any given Sunday?
How might you be able to testify to the value of your faith this Easter to those who don’t share it?
PRAYER: Most merciful God, who by the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ delivered and saved mankind, grant that by faith in Him who suffered on the cross, we may triumph in the power of His victory; delight in our trust found only in you and witness afresh to your undying love for your people. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen
FIFTH READING : Joseph of Arimathea John 19 : 31-end
PRAYER: Give hope and faith to the dying and bereaved, gentleness to those who minister to them and courage to those whose faith is secret Help us to support our church, care for one another and fill our homes with the spirit of your love. Amen
BLESSING: May the Lord bless us and keep us,maythe Lord make His face to shine upon us and be gracious to us.The Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon us and give us peace.
And may the blessing of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us and remain with us this day, this Easter and for ever more. Amen.