April 5, 2012, 4:00pm
JOHN 19:25-34
Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother’s
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw
His mother and the disciple there whom He loved, He said to His mother,
“Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your
mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into His home.
After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that
the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a
vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on
a sprig of hyssop and put it up to His mouth. When Jesus had taken the
wine, He said, “It is finished.” And bowing His head, He handed over
the spirit.
Now since it was preparation day, in order that the bodies might not
remain on the cross on the sabbath, for the sabbath day of that week
was a solemn one, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken and
they be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the
first and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus. But when
they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break
His legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into His side, and
immediately blood and water flowed out.
REFLECTIONS
Everything was now finished. The hour has come. Jesus is to fulfill
the plan of the Father. Jesus does everything with dignity. He is
master of Himself, calm and not bitter or resentful. At the trial,
Jesus is so sure of Himself that His answers are straightforward,
honest, and truthful.
His adversaries, instead, are confused and disoriented. The chief
priests are in disarray as they level their accusations against Jesus.
Pilate is lost for words when faced by Jesus. He asks, “What is truth?”
(18:38). The Jews make an open and public rejection of God’s kingship
when they proclaim, “We have no king but Caesar” (19:15).
Good Friday celebrates Jesus’ fidelity to the Father. Jesus is true
to the Father as He is to Himself. He does what He is sent to do. He
accomplishes the Father’s will at the cost of His own life. Thus, Good
Friday pictures the quality of Jesus’ love for us — extreme, to the
point of shedding his blood to the last drop for our salvation.
Celebrate God’s love for you in Jesus by praying the Stations of the Cross.
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