by Pastor Brian Petak
On this Good Friday, we reflect and meditate on the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross, substituting Himself in our place, and becoming sin on our behalf.
“Our Lord in His teaching regarding prayer never once referred to unanswered prayer; He said God always answers prayer. If our prayers are in the name of Jesus, that is, in accordance with His nature, the answers will not be in accordance with our nature, but with His. We are apt to forget this, and to say without thinking that God does not always answer prayer. He does every time, and when we are in close communion with Him, we realize that we have not been mislead.”
~ Oswald Chambers, Prayer – A Holy Occupation, p. 101.
Meditation
Reflect on these words about the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus:
Behold, they spit on me in scornful wise,
Who by my spittle gave the blinde man eyes,
Leaving his blindnesse to my enemies:
Was ever grief like mine?
My face they cover, though it be divine.
As Moses’ face was vailed, so is mine,
Lest on their double-dark souls either shine:
Was ever grief like mine?
And now I am deliver’d unto death,
Which each one calls for so with utmost breath,
That he before me well nigh suffereth:
Was ever grief like mine?
Weep not, dear friends, since I for both have wept
When all my tears were blood, the while you slept:
Your tears for your own fortunes should be kept:
Was ever grief like mine?
The soldiers lead me to the Common Hall;
There they deride me, they abuse me all:
Yet for twelve heavenly legions I could call:
Was ever grief like mine?
Then with a scarlet robe they me array;
Which shows my blood to be the only way
And cordial left to repair mans decay:
Was ever grief like mine?
Then on my head a crown of thorns I wear:
For these are all the grapes Zion does bear,
Though I my vine planted and watered there:
Was ever grief like mine?
So sits the earths great curse in Adam’s fall
Upon my head: so I remove it all
From the earth unto my brows, and bear the thrall:
Was ever grief like mine?
Then with the reed they gave to me before,
They strike my head, the rock from thence all store
Of heavenly blessings issue evermore:
Was ever grief like mine?
~ George Herbert, 17th English Pastor and Hymnwriter – Bemerton, England
Call to Worship
Hear God call you to worship through his word:
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
Revelation 5:11-12
Adoration
Pray this praise to God:
O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
look on me with Thy favor,
vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
What language shall I borrow
to thank Thee, dearest Friend,
for this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love for Thee.
Be near when I am dying,
O show Thy cross to me!
And, for my succor flying,
come, Lord, to set me free:
these eyes, new faith receiving,
from Thee shall never move;
for he who dies believing
dies safely in Thy love.
~Bernard of Clairvaux, 11th Century Monastic Leader & Writer – Clairvaux, France
Confession of Sin
Confess your sins to God:
O God the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us.
O God the Holy Spirit, have mercy upon us.
Be merciful to us and spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful to us and deliver us, O Lord.
From all sin, from all error, from all evil – deliver us, O Lord.
From the wiles of the devil and from everlasting death – deliver us, O Lord.
Lord Jesus, by the mystery of your holy incarnation,
by your holy nativity,
by your baptism, fasting, temptations – deliver us, O Lord.
By your agony and bloody sweat,
by your cross and passions, by your death and burial,
by your resurrection and ascension,
by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter – deliver us, O Lord. Amen.
~ Martin Bucer, 16th Century English reformer & influencer of John Calvin – Cambridge, England
Assurance of Pardon
Receive these words of comfort from God:
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Psalm 145:8-9
Prayer of Intercession
As you make your requests to God, pray this prayer:
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your
family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be
betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer
death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole
body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:
Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before
you for all members of your holy Church, that in their
vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you;
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Merciful God, who made all men and hate nothing
that you have made: you desire not the death of a sinner
but rather that he should be converted and live.
Have mercy upon all who have not known you,
or who deny the faith of Christ crucified;
take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart,
and contempt for your word, and so fetch them home to your fold
that they may be made one flock under one shepherd;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
world without end. Amen
~ Book of Common Prayer (1552)
Further Petition
Pray for:
- Personal: pray that God will provide moments for you to invest today in reflecting on Jesus’ sacrifice for you.
- Church: pray today for all those who call The Ascent Church “home” who will reflect on, in a meaningful way, the work Christ accomplished on the cross for those who come to Him by faith.
- Community: pray for all of the churches in our community who are remembering Good Friday, and preparing to celebrate Easter on Sunday.
- World: pray for believers in Jerusalem, who will reflect on what happened to Jesus in that city two thousand years ago – even as the Middle East is engaged in conflict today.
Connect the Heart
Consider the following questions to better connect your head and your heart:
- What did God show you about Himself through today’s devotional?
- What did God show you about yourself through today’s devotional?
- What is something you need to surrender to God today as you pursue greater intimacy with Him?
Benediction
As you close your time of meditation and devotion, receive by faith this blessing from God:
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
_________________________________________
Content for our 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting devotionals is adapted from several sources, books on prayer, meditations and liturgies, drawing heavily from O Sacred Head, Now Wounded by Jonathan Gibson (copyright 2024 by Crossway)