Daily Devotional For Friday, April 3, 2026
Good day Southside and in the Christian faith, today is what is traditionally called “Good Friday.” This is a play off of the Latin phrases: “Holy Friday & God’s Friday.” Over time “good” won out to express how good this day is to anyone who received the life Christ offered from the cross and who will take up their own cross and follow Him daily. This day was also good for Jesus. He repeatedly stated that the purpose for which He was born was to die on the cross. He told His disciples this 34 times (34 Times). It was good for Jesus because He remained obedient to God the Father all the way through death (Phil. 2:8).
Part of Good Friday includes Maundy Thursday where Jesus has His Gethsemane Garden experience. Judas shows up to betray Jesus and from there it seems that everything is out of control. But Scripture makes it clear that Jesus was calling all the shots and He was in control – not Judas, not the Jewish religious leaders and not Rome. Jesus prayed several times asking God the Father to take this “cup” from Him (Luke 22:42).
I do not want to diminish Jesus’ experience and agony here, but we too have our own similar Garden of Gethsemane experiences. All of us at times have experiences that we are forced to face or situations that are so painful we do not want to experience or pressures so overwhelming that we feel we will crush beneath them or pain so intense we want to scream or escape. Jesus showed us how to handle any and all of these. Though it was His darkest night, Jesus sheds light for us to see what to do.
- Jesus turned to His 3 closest friends to pray for Him. Reach out to your closest friends and/or family and share what is happening. Ask them to pray right then and there for you (Col. 1:9-12). Or, if someone comes to you, don’t tell them, “I’ll be praying for you.” Why? You probably will forget. Pray for them right then. It will encourage them and bless you.
- Jesus turned to God to pray Matt. 11:28-29). Pour out your heart unrestrained to Him. Cast it all on Him 1 Pet. 5:7).
- Conclude your prayer by sincerely saying, “Not my will, but Your will be done.”
- Really think about how God can use what you are going through for good (Rom. 8:28; 2 Cor. 12:7-9).
Reflection Assignment: When you are having a “Garden of Gethsemane” experience, how do you typically respond and why? Do you pray or do you prey on others? Do you trust the Lord or yourself? Do you read Scripture or turn to some pop-psychology? How can you emulate Jesus’ reaction in His own Garden of Gethsemane experience?
Scripture To Meditate On: John 5:30b,”I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I know that life is not fair and when it isn’t fair to me, please convict me to pray, “Not my will, but Your will be done” (Matt. 26:39). Help me to pray like Job, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly