One of the most meaningful parts of Lent for me is the Good Friday service. I grew up in the Methodist Church, so I’ve been to my fair share of Good Friday services, but it’s only in the past few years that I’ve started to really understand the weight of what it means for Christ to give His life for me. It wasn’t until recently that I fully grasped how significant that sacrifice really is. The service at St. Luke’s has helped me see the gravity of it all. The tone of the service and the space for quiet reflection help me slow down and truly think about what Jesus did for us.
During the service, we usually sing the hymn Were You There? It’s beautiful but also haunting, and it paints such a vivid picture of Christ’s final moments. When I hear that song, I feel like I’m right there with the disciples, the followers, and the crowd, watching everything unfold. I can almost feel their sorrow and longing as they watched Jesus’ life slip away. It makes me pause and reflect on how deeply that moment must have impacted them. It refocuses my heart on the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us.
When I really stop and think about it, Jesus’ sacrifice is overwhelming. He didn’t just die for the people who were there in the moment; He died for all of us. He took on all the things we’ve done wrong and all the ways we’ve fallen short. We’re never going to be perfect, and we’ll keep messing up, but the amazing part is that His love doesn’t change. He carried all of that for us anyway. Because of His sacrifice, we don’t have to be defined by our mistakes. We have the freedom to keep moving forward, knowing we are forgiven. Every time I think about that, it shifts my perspective and fills me with a gratitude I can’t even describe.
As much as Good Friday helps me reflect on the weight of Christ’s sacrifice, I can’t help but look forward to the hope that comes after. The story doesn’t end at the cross. The resurrection is the promise that death isn’t the final word. Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t just about His suffering; it was about conquering death and giving us the gift of eternal life. That hope is what carries us through Lent, reminding us that the pain of Good Friday always leads to the promise of Easter morning.
Madison Woods, Edmond Campus Director of Welcoming Ministries
