Our Father who art in heaven?
Hallowed be Thy name?
Thy Kingdom come?
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?
Give us this day our daily bread?
On this Good Friday we remember that horrible day when Jesus was beaten and brutally executed on a cross. This event highlights the cruelty of humankind and the great love of God at the same time. That is why I have put question marks at the end of these familiar phrases that we have been praying over the last 43 days. The darkness and suffering of the cross was the answer to this prayer…but how? Let’s look at these phrases.
Our Father who art in heaven? Our Father came down from heaven and “became flesh and dwelt among us”. Jesus was the Father in the flesh. The Father paid the price for us on the cross. The Father came to take away our sin “while we were yet sinners”.
Hallowed be Thy name? Is this how the name of God is lifted up? Is this how it is glorified? Yes, the cross shines the glory of God. Greater love has no one than this, “that he lay down his life for his friend”. Jesus said, “If I be lifted up I will draw all men to myself”. This was referring to the crucifixion.
Thy Kingdom come? The cross is God’s Kingdom coming and triumphing over the kingdoms of this world. Facing the mortality of this world and defeating death that eternity could be experienced. Yes, the cross is His Kingdom coming. The veil in the temple that separated the common man from the presence of God was torn into and all are allowed to enter.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven? This was the answer to Jesus’ prayer in the garden. “Thy will be done”. It was God’s will for the deliverance to come through the suffering of the cross. He who was holy became sin that we might become holy.
Give us this day our daily bread? This is what we needed. This is the salvation that gives us life. This is the forgiveness that we long for. We were lost but now we are found! We were dead in our sins but now we can experience life as we were intended. It is exactly what we needed.
So, today as we meditate on the sadness of the death of Jesus let us also thank the Lord for answering our prayers for a redeemer…a deliverer…a Savior who is Christ the Lord.