Day 45 - The cross our guide

Good Friday is a day of solemn remembrance, one that draws us close to the immense sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. It’s a day that calls us to pause and reflect on the depth of His love — a love so profound that He willingly took upon Himself the weight of humanity’s sin. The cross stands as the ultimate symbol of both suffering and redemption, reminding us of the price paid for our salvation.

As we meditate on the events of Good Friday, we can’t help but feel the tension between sorrow and gratitude. We grieve over the pain and humiliation endured by Jesus — the betrayal, the unjust trial, the cruel mocking, the agony of the nails driven into His hands and feet. Yet, even in the darkest moment, there is hope. Jesus’s death was not the end; it was the beginning of God’s greatest victory. Through His sacrifice, the barrier between humanity and God was torn down, and the promise of eternal life was made possible.

Today, we are invited to consider the significance of the cross in our own lives. What does it mean to follow the crucified Christ? How does His humility, obedience, and selflessness challenge us to live? Good Friday is not simply about remembering an event in history — it is about allowing the reality of the cross to shape our hearts and guide our actions.

Let us approach the cross with awe and reverence, knowing that it is the place where our brokenness meets God’s grace. May the sacrifice of Jesus inspire us to live lives of love, humility, and forgiveness, so that we may honour the gift He has given us.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, today, we stand before the cross, humbled and overwhelmed by the depth of Your love. We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who endured unimaginable suffering so that we could be reconciled to You. His sacrifice reminds us of the weight of sin and the lengths to which You have gone to redeem us.

Lord, as we remember the events of Good Friday, we ask You to fill our hearts with gratitude and awe. May we never take for granted the cost of our salvation. Teach us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, embracing humility, obedience, and selflessness in our daily lives.

We pray for those who feel far from You today — for those who are burdened by guilt, shame, or pain. May the message of the cross bring them hope and healing, reminding them that Your grace is always sufficient. Help us to be bearers of that hope, sharing Your love with those around us.

Lord, we look to You in this sacred moment. Strengthen our faith and renew our spirits as we prepare for the victory of Easter morning. May the cross forever be our guide, pointing us to the truth of Your unfailing love.

In Jesus’s holy name, we pray. Amen.

Debbie Wilson