St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish
Theme:
“When Jesus had received the wine, he said,
‘It is finished.’
Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)
During Good Friday, we celebrate how Jesus completed all the works and mission of God
the Father. We celebrate how Jesus surrendered to the plan of his Father by bowing his
head on the cross. We celebrate how Jesus gave up his spirit so all humanity might
receive new spirit: “When Jesus had received the wine, he said, ‘It is finished.’ Then he
bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30).
Jesus followed the plan of God so that no one might be lost. Jesus followed the plan of
God so that God’s promises might be fulfilled:
“Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him,
came forward and asked them,
‘Whom are you looking for?’
They answered, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’
Jesus replied, ‘I am he.’
Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
When Jesus said to them, ‘I am he,’
they stepped back and fell to the ground.
Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?”
And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus answered, ‘I told you that I am he.
So if you are looking for me, let these men go.’
This was to fulfil the word that he had spoken,
‘I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.’” (John 19:4-9)
Jesus accepted the mission and cup of his Father so that all humanity might be saved
from things that cut short the promises of God in their life:
“Then Simon Peter, who had a sword,
drew it, struck the high priest’s slave,
and cut off his right ear.
The slave’s name was Malchus.
Jesus said to Peter,
‘Put your sword back into its sheath.
Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?’” (John 19:10-11)
Jesus accepted the mission of God to suffer and die so that he might give to humanity his
life, his mother and his comfort:
“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 fulfil 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.” (John 19:26-29)
Jesus suffered and died so that he might heal the bruises that each human person suffers:
“See, my servant shall prosper;
he shall be exalted and lifted up,
and shall be very high.
Just as there were many who were astonished at him
—so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of mortals—
so he shall startle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which had not been told them they shall see,
and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.
Who has believed what we have heard?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before the Lord like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by others;
a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces
he was despised,
and we held him of no account.
Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
By a perversion of justice he was taken away.
Who could have imagined his future?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people.
They made his grave with the wicked
and his tomb with the rich,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.
When you make his life an offering for sin,
he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
Out of his anguish he shall see light;
he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he poured out himself to death,
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 52.13 - 53.12)
Jesus offered his life as a sacrificial offering so that he might be the source of eternal life
for each one of us:
“Since we have a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are,
yet without sin.
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness,
so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help in time of need.
In the days of his flesh,
Jesus offered up prayers and supplications,
with loud cries and tears,
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Although he was a Son,
he learned obedience through what he suffered;
and having been made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation
for all who obey him.” (Hebrews 4.14-16; 5.7-9)
Let us also bow our heads to receive the saving protection Jesus offers. Let each of
wounds be healed by the bruises of the suffering of Christ. Let us draw on the source of
eternal life to save us from kinds and shades of death.