Holy Week: Good Friday

Today, Good Friday (or God's Friday) Christians reflect on the death of Jesus and its meaning.

Here is how the Gospel of Luke describes the moment of Christ's death after hours of agonising suffering:

"It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun's light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said,

"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

Having said this, he breathed his last.

When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said,

"Certainly this man was innocent."

And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts.

But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things." Luke 23: 44 - 49

On Good Friday Christians often reflect on the traditional 'seven last words' of Jesus from the cross. The seventh is, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit". After that 'word' others speak, but having 'breathed his last' Jesus is silent. So the 8th 'last word' from the cross is silence. And silence is often the only possible or the wisest first response in the face of horror, suffering and the unjust cruelty of the world. The many silent vigils in response to recent atrocities in Brussels and other places show that.

Whether you are a believer in Jesus or not, whether you pray or not, you may find helpful this wordless video with images and quiet music. Take a look and create a pause point in your day. It is short.

Image Credit: Pixabay, CCO Public Domain