MICAH 6.8

HOLY WEEK—GOOD FRIDAY THE DAY OF CRUCIFIXION
		A PREPARED MEDITATION DESIGNED TO BE USED AS A PRAYER AND A BEAD. YOU MAY, HOWEVER, CHOOSE TO USE THE FOLLOWING IN WHATEVER MANNER IS MEANINGFUL FOR YOU. —click here for music meditation to prepare for worship—
		CROSS	Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. Ours were the griefs he bore, ours were the pains he carried. Ours were the sins he took on him, and by his wounds we are healed. He committed no sin, no guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten but he trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
		INVITATORY	Christ, when we survey the wondrous cross, strengthen us to face the very worst in our world: hatred, greed, lust for power, violence, oppression, and the fear that we are too small...too insignificant...too ugly...too unworthy. Help us to bring your truth, grace, faith, hope, wisdom, and love—the greatest of these being love. For your love has the power to destroy all that has brought you to this cross and us to your side. Amen.
		CRUCIFORM	—click here for music— see note below Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended, that we to judge thee have in hate pretended? By foes derided, by thine own rejected, O most afflicted!
		WEEK 1	Luke 23.34: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Two others were also led off with Jesus, criminals who were to be put to death. When they had reached the place called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there—together with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Abba forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” Then they divided his garments, rolling dice for them. Luke 23.43: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” One of the criminals who hung there beside him insulted Jesus, too, saying, “Are you really the Messiah? Then save yourself—and us!” But the other answered the first with a rebuke: “Don’t you even fear God? We are only paying the price for what we have done, but this one has done nothing wrong!” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your glory.” Jesus replied, “The truth is, today you’ll be with me in paradise!” John 19.26–27: “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.” Standing close to Jesus’ cross were his mother; his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas; and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Here is your son.” Then he said to his disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment, the disciple took her into his household. Matthew 27.46: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  At noon, a darkness fell over the whole land until about three in the afternoon. At that hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” This made some of the bystanders who heard it remark, “He is calling for Elijah!” John 19.28: “I thirst.” After this, Jesus knew that now all was completed, and to fulfill scripture perfectly, he said, “I am thirsty.” There was a jar of cheap wine nearby, so they put a sponge soaked in the wine on a hyssop stick and raised it to his lips. John 19.30: “It is finished.” Jesus took the wine and said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Luke 23.46: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” It was about noon, and darkness fell on the whole land until three in the afternoon, because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two, and Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, “Abba, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Saying this, Jesus breathed for the last time.
		CRUCIFORM	—click here for music— see note below Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee? Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee! 'Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; I crucified thee.
		WEEK 2	Luke 23.34: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Two others were also led off with Jesus, criminals who were to be put to death. When they had reached the place called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there—together with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Abba forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” Then they divided his garments, rolling dice for them. Luke 23.43: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” One of the criminals who hung there beside him insulted Jesus, too, saying, “Are you really the Messiah? Then save yourself—and us!” But the other answered the first with a rebuke: “Don’t you even fear God? We are only paying the price for what we have done, but this one has done nothing wrong!” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your glory.” Jesus replied, “The truth is, today you’ll be with me in paradise!” John 19.26–27: “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.” Standing close to Jesus’ cross were his mother; his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas; and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Here is your son.” Then he said to his disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment, the disciple took her into his household. Matthew 27.46: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  At noon, a darkness fell over the whole land until about three in the afternoon. At that hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” This made some of the bystanders who heard it remark, “He is calling for Elijah!” John 19.28: “I thirst.” After this, Jesus knew that now all was completed, and to fulfill scripture perfectly, he said, “I am thirsty.” There was a jar of cheap wine nearby, so they put a sponge soaked in the wine on a hyssop stick and raised it to his lips. John 19.30: “It is finished.” Jesus took the wine and said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Luke 23.46: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” It was about noon, and darkness fell on the whole land until three in the afternoon, because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two, and Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, “Abba, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Saying this, Jesus breathed for the last time.
		CRUCIFORM	—click here for music— see note below Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered; the slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered. For our atonement, while we nothing heeded, God interceded.
		WEEK 3	Luke 23.34: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Two others were also led off with Jesus, criminals who were to be put to death. When they had reached the place called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there—together with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Abba forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” Then they divided his garments, rolling dice for them. Luke 23.43: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” One of the criminals who hung there beside him insulted Jesus, too, saying, “Are you really the Messiah? Then save yourself—and us!” But the other answered the first with a rebuke: “Don’t you even fear God? We are only paying the price for what we have done, but this one has done nothing wrong!” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your glory.” Jesus replied, “The truth is, today you’ll be with me in paradise!” John 19.26–27: “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.” Standing close to Jesus’ cross were his mother; his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas; and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Here is your son.” Then he said to his disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment, the disciple took her into his household. Matthew 27.46: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  At noon, a darkness fell over the whole land until about three in the afternoon. At that hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” This made some of the bystanders who heard it remark, “He is calling for Elijah!” John 19.28: “I thirst.” After this, Jesus knew that now all was completed, and to fulfill scripture perfectly, he said, “I am thirsty.” There was a jar of cheap wine nearby, so they put a sponge soaked in the wine on a hyssop stick and raised it to his lips. John 19.30: “It is finished.” Jesus took the wine and said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Luke 23.46: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” It was about noon, and darkness fell on the whole land until three in the afternoon, because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two, and Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, “Abba, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Saying this, Jesus breathed for the last time.
		CRUCIFORM	—click here for music— see note below For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation, thy mortal sorrow, and thy life's oblation; thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion, for my salvation.
		WEEK 4	Luke 23.34: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Two others were also led off with Jesus, criminals who were to be put to death. When they had reached the place called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there—together with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Abba forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” Then they divided his garments, rolling dice for them. Luke 23.43: “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” One of the criminals who hung there beside him insulted Jesus, too, saying, “Are you really the Messiah? Then save yourself—and us!” But the other answered the first with a rebuke: “Don’t you even fear God? We are only paying the price for what we have done, but this one has done nothing wrong!” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your glory.” Jesus replied, “The truth is, today you’ll be with me in paradise!” John 19.26–27: “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother.” Standing close to Jesus’ cross were his mother; his mother’s sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas; and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Here is your son.” Then he said to his disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment, the disciple took her into his household. Matthew 27.46: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  At noon, a darkness fell over the whole land until about three in the afternoon. At that hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” This made some of the bystanders who heard it remark, “He is calling for Elijah!” John 19.28: “I thirst.” After this, Jesus knew that now all was completed, and to fulfill scripture perfectly, he said, “I am thirsty.” There was a jar of cheap wine nearby, so they put a sponge soaked in the wine on a hyssop stick and raised it to his lips. John 19.30: “It is finished.” Jesus took the wine and said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Luke 23.46: “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” It was about noon, and darkness fell on the whole land until three in the afternoon, because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two, and Jesus uttered a loud cry and said, “Abba, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Saying this, Jesus breathed for the last time.
		CRUCIFORM	—click here for music— see note below Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee, I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee, think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, not my deserving.
		INVITATORY	Merciful God, you gave your Son to suffer the shame of the cross. Save us from hardness of heart, that, seeing him who died for us, we may repent, confess our sin, and receive your overflowing love, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
		CROSS	—click here for music— see the note below When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood. See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
		The traditional hymns for Good Friday share the theme of a "substituitionary atonement." Such a theology dates back to at least St.Augustine (354-430 AD) and seeks to explain the crucifixion of Christ as being a substitute for what we, as sinners, should have received. But, in the love of grace, Jesus takes our place on the cross. While various atonement theories are not necessarily mutually exclusive, more recent atonement discussions suggest that a Christian approach to the cross is more complicated than a spiritual quid pro quo. In fact, more recent expressions of the atonement offer a richer and more profound theology. To read more go here.