April 3, 2026
Holy Week - Part 5
John 19:28-30
04/03/2026
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now
finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ``I
thirst.''
29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a
sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch
and held it to his mouth.
30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said,
``It is finished,'' and he bowed his head and gave
up his spirit. (ESV)
Today is both the darkest and the most important day in
human history. Jesus the Christ, true God and true man, died
upon the cross to pay the price of your sins and mine. The
promise made to Adam and Eve on the day they sinned is fulfilled
by the agony of our Savior.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished,
said (to fulfill the Scripture), ``I thirst.'' A jar
full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge
full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to
his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he
said, ``It is finished,'' and he bowed his head and
gave up his spirit.
Once and for all time our Lord was sacrificed to redeem
sinners. In His death is our life. He who knew no sin became
sin for us that we might be redeemed from eternal death.
Some larger parishes may have a worship service from noon to
three, the hours of darkness. Others, like Trinity, will gather
in the evening to ponder this gift of love. No matter when the
congregation gathers, it gathers because God so loved the world
that He gave His only-begotten Son.
Therefore the Church prays today:
Almighty God, graciously behold this Your family, for
whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed
and delivered into the hands of sinful men to suffer
death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.