May 17

Good Friday

Blotting out the handwriting of our sins that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross. Colossians 2:14.

We are led from the thought of Christ incarnate to that of Christ crucified, thus following the guidance of the Church in the order of the Creeds. To appreciate the merits of our blessed Lord's Passion we must strive to realize our need of a Saviour. Meditate upon Him hanging upon His painful Cross, bearing in His sacred Body the punishment due to sinful men; behold Him suffering the death of a common male-factor, His Body tortured by painful wounds, His soul borne down by sufferings. Indeed one scarcely ventures to speak or write much upon so sacred a subject. Christ's members should strive silently to realize it to themselves, following our blessed Lord in thought through the scenes of His sufferings and death. He who thus contemplates his crucified Lord will glory in nothing but the Cross of Christ, loving every cross which God lays upon him. As with the Cross of Christ, so is it also with His death and burial. These Divine truths convey a holy lesson for our practice as well as an article of belief for the exercise of our faith. The Crucifixion of our Lord brings before us the duty of crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts, as well as the doctrine of the Cross of Christ. Strive by continual mortifying all corrupt affections so to be buried with Him here, that when we die we may rest in peace.

Lord of my heart, by Thy last cry Let not Thy Blood on earth be spent; Lo, at Thy Feet I fainting lie,

Upon Thy streaming wounds my weary eyes Wait like the parched earth on April skies.