Good Friday: Love That Stays
Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s
sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother
and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman,
here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And
from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus
knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), ‘I
am thirsty.’ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge
full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had
received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he bowed his head and gave
up his spirit.
(John 19:25b-30, NRSVue)
There are moments in life when words fail us, when all we
can do is stand, watch, and weep. Good Friday is one of those moments. The
scene at the cross is not polished or comfortable; it is raw, aching, and holy.
Yet even here, amid the noise and cruelty, love remains.
Jesus, even in his dying, gives love. His concern is for the
ones before him: “Woman, here is your son… here is your mother.” In that
exchange, he creates a new family, the beginnings of the community of faith.
The church is born not in triumph, but in shared grief and care. It is a family
held together by love that endures even the cross.
Good Friday reminds us of justifying grace. It is the deep
mercy that reconciles us to God through Christ’s self-giving love. This is not
a transaction but a revelation. In Jesus’ suffering, we see the full measure of
divine compassion. God in Christ does not stand apart from our pain; God enters
it, bears it, and transforms it. Grace meets us at the foot of the cross,
reminding us that redemption comes through love that refuses to let go.
When Jesus says, “It is finished,” he is not admitting
defeat but announcing fulfillment. The work of love has reached its completion.
The grace that began to stir in the upper room now flows freely for the world.
It is grace that forgives, restores, and invites us into new life.
Good Friday invites a quiet kind of faith, a faith that
lingers in the shadows, trusting that even here, God is present. It calls us to
look honestly at our world’s suffering and our own, and to believe that love
can still bring life out of death.
A spiritual practice for today:
Spend a few moments in silence today. Picture yourself standing near the cross.
Bring before God what feels broken or unfinished in your life. Offer it into
the hands of the One who said, “It is finished,” trusting that his grace is
still at work, even in what feels beyond repair.
Questions for Reflection and Action
- What
does it mean to “stay near the cross” in your own walk with Christ?
- How do
you experience God’s presence in moments of suffering or loss?
- In
what ways might God be forming new relationships or community in your life
through compassion?
- How
does Jesus’ final word, “It is finished”, speak hope into your story
today?
Journaling Prompt
Reflect on a time when love helped you endure something
painful. How did that experience shape your understanding of God’s grace?
A Blessing:
May the love that hung upon the cross hold you close today.
May the mercy of Christ surround every sorrow with peace.
And may the hope of redemption rise quietly within your heart.
Prayer:
Merciful God, on this Good Friday we remember the depth of your love revealed
through Jesus Christ. Teach us to stay near the cross, not in despair but in
faith. Let the power of your grace renew what is broken within us and lead us
to love as Christ loved: steadfast, compassionate, and true. Amen.
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