Holy Week Resource - Good Friday

April 18, 2025

holy week resource - good friday

I saw what they did to Him, to my Messiah, my Friend...

They tried to accuse Him in a ridiculous kangaroo court. They couldn’t convict Him; He’d done nothing wrong! He healed the sick; He made the lame walk; He brought back the dead! Who else could have done that but the Messiah? He was the One we had been waiting for…

They screamed and shouted, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21) How could they? They had shouted “Hosanna” just days before! (Matt. 21:9) Then He was there before the crowd, carrying the beam of a cross. My heart thundered in my chest; this cannot be happening, I thought. I saw they had whipped Him. His back was bleeding and He was so weak. They had to pull a man from the crowd just to help Him carry that awful cross. (Matt 27:32)

I watched in anguish as they nailed Him there. His hands. His feet. He cried out and I thought my own heart would stop as I watched them raise Him up, but I just stood there. I couldn’t stop them. He was there tortured, hurting, and still He spoke to John and to His mother. (John 19:26-27) My heart broke as I saw her face. He was her baby. She wouldn’t leave. She couldn’t leave, none of us could. We stayed, we were determined to stay as long as it took.

We heard Him shout out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt 27:46) He looked exhausted with pain. They rolled dice for His clothes. They acted like He was just another criminal. But He wasn’t! Even on the cross I heard Him talking about paradise and forgiveness to the real criminals hanging beside Him.

I heard Him say, “It is finished” (John 19:30) then He was gone. Just…gone…

And now what? What becomes of us? Will they come for us too? How do we move forward without Him? I’m broken without Him. I want to turn back time and do something, anything to have changed this day. But I can’t - it’s over.

So we sit in this room, shattered and afraid. Some quietly cry. Others pray. What comes next? Something? Nothing? All I can think to do is pray - just like He taught us.

I bow my head as the tears flow down and begin…

Your Response:

Take a moment and pray; thank the Lord for what He did for you on the cross. He died in anguish for you and for me. Today, let’s pause and sit in that hard truth and give humble thanks to the One who shed His blood for all of us, because He loves us.

by Tracie Durham, N. Little Rock, Arkansas
Body & Soul® Spiritual Impact Team

Body and Soul® Fitness is an international Christian fitness organization that trains and equips instructors to lead a variety of group fitness programs including choreographed aerobics-style Cardio Strength & Flexibility™, cardio dance style Dance Blast™, free-weights-focused Power Strength™, boot camp style FIT360™ and Longevity FIT360™, and GOLD™ - lower impact programming for participants that are pregnant, have weight challenges, injuries, or other medical conditions. These exercise classes meet in church gyms, community centers, gymnasiums, parking lots, schools, etc. across the United States, Europe, and Africa. In-person and virtual fitness classes are available.

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