Good Friday | Lent Devotional Day 45

Exploring the Meaning of Jesus’ Death
April 3, 2026
Written by: H. Baer

Good Friday

Scripture:

Luke 23:33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” They drew lots as a way of dividing up his clothing.
35 The people were standing around watching, but the leaders sneered at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself if he really is the Christ sent from God, the chosen one.”
36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came up to him, offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you really are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
(Luke 23:33-37)

Reflection:

Good Friday has always been my favorite day of the year. I typically get weird looks when I tell people that. To me, it's the ultimate climax of this beautiful and heart wrenching love story.

Each year, I dedicate this day to reading scripture, praying, reflecting, and watching The Passion of Christ...then reflecting some more. All of this time spent reflecting, and I still can't even begin to wrap my head around it. I can't even imagine what Jesus must have been thinking and feeling throughout those horrific 24 hours. We get a glimpse of it during His prayer at the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46), but I truly can't imagine. As soldiers were whipping Him, mocking Him, driving giant nails though His hands and feet, Jesus prayed for them. He asked His Father to forgive them. Can you imagine?!

It's really hard for me to watch the entire scourging scene in The Passion, but I force myself to stick it out. I mean, if Jesus could endure it, live it, feel it...certainly I can watch it. It's difficult for me to reflect on how physically painful all of this must have been for Him, even down to having to lug this incredibly heavy cross all over town after having been nearly tortured to death. I can barely get out of bed to crawl to the couch when I have a cold.

In addition to the physical pain, can you even imagine the mental and emotional pain, He must have experienced? These were the very people He came to save, to love, to experience life with. They chose to treat Him as a condemned criminal? All He ever did was love them. I can't even imagine how that must have felt. As they are torturing Him, He prayed for them to be forgiven?!

I know there's a lot to be said about the events of the crucifixion, but my focus for this devotional today is just to try to put ourselves in Jesus' shoes for a minute. As best as we can, try to truly imagine what He must have felt, thought, experienced. When I meditate on Jesus’  experience, I recognize how incredibly grateful I am that He chose to love, to forgive. Despite everything we did to Him... He loved us.

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, for loving radically in a way none of us ever could. How great is our God. Amen Amen Amen!!!

And my gosh, I am just so so sorry. Amen.

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