D E VO TIONA L

Hello! We’re glad that you’re able to have time and

space to do this Good Friday devotional. Try to find a
quiet space or somewhere that has minimal distractions.
Remember to put your gadgets on silent. You can take
however long you need when reading the material or
hearing the songs that have been prepared. Before you
begin, take a moment to quieten down.
We despised him and rejected him;
he endured suffering and pain.
No one would even look at him—
we ignored him as if he were nothing.
“But he endured the suffering that should have been ours,
the pain that we should have borne.
All the while we thought that his suffering
was punishment sent by God.
But because of our sins he was wounded,
beaten because of the evil we did.
We are healed by the punishment he suffered,
made whole by the blows he received.
(Isaiah 53:3-5 - GNT)

“so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives

in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave his life for me.”
(Galatians 2:20 - GNT)

At this moment, take some time to pause and reflect on

the Bible passages that you’ve just read. You can read it
a few times more if you want to. Once you are ready,
listen to the following song. When you’re done,
continue on.

Song: The Power of the Cross

(Keith & Kristy Getty, Stuart Townend)
In his book, The Vision & The Vow, Pete Greig relates a
story about the famous art critic, Robert Cumming. In it,
he tells how Cumming had always found a painting of
“The Virgin & Child with Saints Jerome and Dominic” by
the Italian renaissance artist, Filippino Lippi not quite
“right”. The proportions and composition of the painting
didn’t fit the mould of a distinguished artist’s work.
The perspective just didn’t “jive”. One day, as he stood
gazing at the painting at the National Gallery in London,
it suddenly occurred to him that perhaps this piece of
work was not meant to be on exhibition at a gallery.
And that guess was proved right for the masterpiece
was commissioned for the funeral chapel of a rich
family in Florence back in the 15th century. That means
the painting was to be placed at an altar or in a place
of prayer - at a position higher than eye-level. Upon
realisation, Cumming went on bended knees and when he
did, the painting took on a whole new perspective for him.
Everything fell into place – the lines were cohesive, the
composition was balanced and the characters within it
came alive. Robert Cumming finally saw the “real picture”
on bended knees.
This Easter, the events around us seem to point to a world
in chaos. People are looking for a vaccine, a system or a
person to solve problems ranging from health to finances.
We have questions and uncertainties about the days
ahead. In circumstances like these, anxiety or fear could
overtake us. Disappointments and unanswered prayers
can stumble us. Before we take the next step, why not
adopt the same posture as Robert Cumming? Knees
down, eyes up! First, give God the due glory, honour and
reverence. Let us fix our eyes upon His power, supremacy
& majesty. Let us recall His faithfulness, goodness and
kindness. Tune our ears to His whispers of grace, mercy
and love and allow God to be our focus and our peace.

You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants
of Jacob, honour him! Revere him, all you descendants
of Israel! (Psalm 22:23)

Pause and listen to this song.

Song: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

(Nicole Nordeman)
And when that is done, look to Calvary where His blood
flowed freely for you. His blood which brought eternal
life and unlocked the gates of heaven so that you can
confidently approach His throne of grace. Contemplate
His matchless worth, His infinite wisdom and His unending
love – found converged in a wooden cross. A symbol of
punishment for the Romans but one of salvation for you,
His redeemed.

But I, by your great love, can come into your house;

in reverence I bow down towards your holy temple.
(Psalm 5:7)

Come just as you are for He waits with opened arms.

Bring your joys and sorrows, hopes and pains, gladness
and shame. Nothing is too trivial for the One who made
you. Nothing impossible for the Victor who wears the
crown of life. Come, sit at His feet. Revel in His presence
and delight in His love for you. Love that is infinite, love
that heals, love that overcomes.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither

angels nor demons, nor heavenly rulers neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height
nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able
to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus
our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
In everything and in all things, God remains the great
I AM! As you behold all that He is, may you, like Robert
Cumming, gain the right perspective from a posture of
worship and prayer. Hope is poured into palms that are
opened towards heaven and filled into hearts which are
bowed down in reverence.

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from
the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it
was not paid with mere gold or silver, which will lose their
value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless,
spotless Lamb of God. Through Christ you have come to
trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in
God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him
great glory. (1 Peter 1:18-19, 21)

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we

are.” When—like that art critic—we drop the façade of
pompous posturing and fall to the floor in prayer, we gain
a new perspective on life that brings out the beauty and
grace in a world that had previously seemed so chaotic.”
(Anais Nin)
Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, I rest secure in the knowledge that You

hold me in the palm of Your hand. You know every detail
of my life and understand me completely.

By Your blood am I reconciled to You. By Your death do

I live. As You calmed the winds and the rain, silence the
turmoil within me. As You healed the sick, restore my
body. Still my anxious heart with Your peace. Calm my
fears with Your right hand.

Thank you for Your faithfulness and grace that knows no

limits. The life I live is a testament of that gift. Unworthy
as I am, You poured forth grace. Sinful as I am, You poured
forth mercy. Thank you my God, thank you.

Song : Wonderful, Merciful Saviour

(Selah)

We’ve come to the end of the devotional. If you ever need

prayer or someone to talk to, you can reach out to us at
dumc.my/prayer.