Daily Office Readings for Good Friday: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 95 and 22; Evening, Psalms 40 and 54;
Lamentation 3:1 to 9 and 19 to 33; 1st Peter 1:10 to 20; Morning, John 13:36-38 and Evening, John 19:38-42:
“Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds.” (John 19:39)
Nicodemus finds himself near the beginning of the Gospel of John, in the middle, and at the end like this reading for today. Nicodemus is a secret admirer of Jesus. But because of his position with the Pharisees he was distant and secret. He almost got in trouble defending Jesus with his fellow authorities. We read in John’s Gospel, “Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” (John 7:50 – 51). He was quickly jumped on about that question and he backed off.
Nicodemus is another follower of Jesus who felt shame for not standing up for Jesus more than he did. Perhaps this is why he brought well more than enough mixture of myrrh and aloes to anoint his body. When we act outside of our Christian values we too disown Jesus. Today we remember his crucifixion. This is a very sad thing we did. I say we, as in humanity. I think God looks upon this act as an example of our ignorance. For the most part, we still are. Most theologians believe this was a necessary sacrifice for the atonement of our sins. Because of this sacrifice, we dub today “Good Friday.” I must confess, I have a hard time connecting “good” and murder together.
For me, our Lord Jesus was born as one of us by the Holy Spirit working through Mary, was raised in Galilee setting the example for how we should live together by teaching and preaching the Good News of the Gospel. He healed the sick, cast out demons, gave sight to the blind, enabled the lame to walk, raised the dead back to life, and most importantly, he forgave sins. This latter is something we can all do if we try. Perhaps Good Friday is good for Jesus too because he gets to go back to the Father from whence he came.
While Good Friday is a sad day for Christians all over the world, let us not forget that our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are suffering Good Fridays every day. Please keep Ukraine in your prayers today, and everyday.
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom.
What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
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