Good Friday and Easter bring hope to our suffering world. There is healing to be found through the wounds of Jesus.
Above are crocus, matched with the purple tints on the flowers of the sweet scented Cyclamen persicum, grown in pots in our porch. They are nature’s hint of this season of suffering. Purple is the traditional colour for Lent and Good Friday.
Good Friday
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
John 19:1-2
O all ye who passe by, behold and see;
Man stole the fruit, but I must climbe the tree;
The tree of life to all, but onely me:
Was ever grief like mine?……….Betwixt two theeves I spend my utmost breath,
As he that for some robberie suffereth.
Alas! what have I stollen from you? Death.
Was ever grief like mine?
Two verses from ‘The Sacrifice’ by George Herbert, based on the traditional Holy Week ‘Reproaches of Christ’.
Good Friday’s terrible events have left their mark. A sadness hangs over everything, that it had to come to this – that God spared not his only Son but gave him up for us all. In response even the sun was darkened, the rocks split open and the great curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This was Earth’s darkest day.
Every wound of Jesus was a mouth to speak the grace and love of God.
‘We never come so near to Jesus—at least, such is my experience—as when we gaze upon his bloody sweat, or see him robed in shame, crowned with thorns, and enthroned upon the cross. Our Lord’s incomparable beauties are most visible amid his griefs.’
Charles Spurgeon
Paradise
Another man was facing the most terrible moment of his life. Yet he was not alone. There right next to him was the Saviour of the world. In his desperation he turned to Jesus with the words:
Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom
Jesus’ wonderful reply gives hope to us all.
Today you will be with me in paradise.
Luke 23: 42-43
When we turn to Jesus in faith, the door through death is opened for us into an eternal Paradise with him.
The Easter Garden
The gardener has been busy here. The gate is open and inviting, but no one is here. There is sadness in the air and there have been many tears. Nothing strange, our broken, hurting world is full of them still. We hesitate. Are we allowed to go through? The open gate seems to say ‘Welcome’ and inside we find we are in a physic garden of herbs:
Christ hath took in this piece of ground
From ‘Sunday’ by George Herbert
And made a garden there
For those who want herbs for their wound.
Arise sad heart; if thou dost not withstand,
‘The Dawning’ by George Herbert
Christ’s resurrection thine may be:
Do not by hanging down break from the hand,
Which as it riseth, raiseth thee:
Arise, Arise;
And with his buriall-linen drie thine eyes:
Christ left his grave-clothes, that we might, when grief
Draws tears, or bloud, not want an handkerchief.
There is healing in the wounds of Jesus.
The sorrows of Good Friday are only half the story. Christ’s final cry on the cross, ‘it is finished’, was a cry of triumph. With his sacrifice completed his body rested in the tomb. On the third day God the Father raised him from the dead. On Easter Sunday there are church bells ringing across the lands (including those in our village), and church congregations are full of cheerful hearts and smiles on everyone’s faces. We Christians are an Easter People and ‘Alleluia’ is our theme.
For more on the full story see my previous Easter posts.
Wishing you a thoughtful Good Friday followed by a joyful and Happy Easter.
A Listening Heart 
Very good to hear words of solace in such a season of pain and yet eternal blessings. Blessings to you both! Jim and Jennie
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Easter blessings to you both. Christ’s resurrection is the answer to everything. Yes, we are an Easter People. It’s always good to hear from you.
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A very late Happy Easter to you and yours, Richard.
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Easter greetings to you and the family, Clare. I hope your church has had a great Easter weekend. I expect your Suffolk spring is well under way.
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Thank you, Richard. Our Easter celebrations at church have gone fairly well though we, as a benefice are struggling. We have a part-time house-for-duty vicar with eleven churches to look after. Most of the churches don’t have a complete PCC and some have no church wardens. We have had a number of deaths over the past couple of years and have lost so many stalwarts and have had no-one join the church to take their place. My own church in the benefice does have a full PCC but most of them are not church-goers but villagers who are fond of the building! The east wall has an enormous crack in it and the window is in danger of falling out. We have bought some scaffolding (cheaper than hiring it) and that is in place but there is no chance of any repairs for many years. I’m sure you must know of other churches in the same predicament.
On a happier note – yes, spring is well under weigh and all is looking glorious!
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Sorry about the problems with your church buildings, Clare. But well done for keeping going as a congregation.
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Thank you, Richard. Sorry about the moan; I had recently come back from the church after doing my cleaning stint and was feeling a little down.
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I hope that you had a good Easter Richard and that your garden is filling with spring flowers.
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Yes thanks Andrea. At the moment the garden is full of fruit blossom with bright coloured tulips underneath – always so cheering in a cautious spring.
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