Good Friday Devotional

The four Gospels describe the terrible suffering and shame that surrounded Jesus’ crucifixion. For instance, the soldiers bound Him and led Him away. Some spit at him, blindfolded Him, struck Him with fists. Even the Sanhedrin spit in His face and struck Him.

Soldiers stripped Him and mocked Him as king by placing on Him a crown of thorns and a scarlet robe and putting a staff in His hand. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they scoffed. They, too, spit on Him and struck Him on the head again and again. They all condemned Him as worthy of death.

The chief priests, teachers of the law, the elders and Herod joined in the mockery. More insults came from the robbers crucified with Him.

Yet Hebrews 12:2 tells us that for the joy set before him Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame. Because of the joy, the shame meant nothing to Him. So what was the joy that caused Him to disregard the shame?

Just before the soldiers came for Jesus, He cried to God His deepest longing: He wanted to be in us, to be one with us and have a closer union with us than we could have with anyone else. (See John 17:22-26). Only by His dying for us, would this joy be possible. He was looking forward to having intimate communion with His people. Now He invites us, His people:

“Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear my voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with me” (Rev. 3:20 TPT).

The whole life and death of Jesus was to make possible this intimate feast with Him. Our love and communion with Him give Him immeasurable joy! He would go through anything necessary to gain this intimacy.

Let’s please Him today by giving Him the sweet fellowship and time of loving communion He died to receive.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for loving me enough to die for my fellowship. May my love for You give You great joy.

Jesus final prayer: “… that I myself may be in them” (John 17:26).