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Good Friday 2026
Jesus was crucified on the top of a hill, just outside the City of Jerusalem. He was lifted up between heaven and earth as the great sign of our salvation. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (Jn 3:14-15) The Israelites of old, when wounded by a serpent, found healing and life by gazing with hope on a serpent lifted up on a pole. We, who are wounded by sin, are gazing today at Jesus lifted up on the cross. He has taken on Himself our sins and crucified them on the cross. His death is death to sin, once for all. His life is victory over death. Our faith shares in this victory. Whoever believes in the Son of God crucified and risen from the dead has eternal life.
Dear Brothers and Sisters, do we believe that Jesus is the Son of God lifted up on the cross for our condemnation and our salvation? Do we understand that our sins crucify Him and His humble love saves us? When you have lifted the Son of man, then you will know that I am he (Jn 8:28). The cross condemns us – for my sins have crucified the Son of God. The cross saves us – for Jesus, the Son of man lifted up, is the eternal God; He is the Son, one with the Father in the same name, the same power and the same life; He is one and the same LORD who revealed to Moses His divine name: I AM.
When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself. (Jn 12:32) Love, divine Love, draws all men and women, and indeed the whole world to Jesus crucified. We cannot believe in Jesus despite the Cross. We cannot love Jesus in spite of His passion. We cannot bracket out the cross and try to find salvation otherwise. Faith, hope and love draw us to the Cross, that is to say, to the Son of God crucified, to God lifted up on the Cross and making the gallows the throne of His glory. It is on the Cross that we meet the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself up for us.
Today, we look at Christ lifted up on the wood of the Cross. We see the glory of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. We exalt and extol Him who humbled Himself. He is our Saviour and Redeemer. We hope in Him. We love Him whose love draws us to the Father.