Thank God It's Friday: Encountering the Seven Last Words from the Cross

The Seven Last Words of Jesus on the cross have inspired a variety of religious devotions over the years. In many churches, people gather between noon and three in the afternoon on Good Friday afternoon and hear reflections based on these poignant and powerful words of Jesus. Methodist Bishop William Willamon offers seven contemporary reflections and a concluding afterward on the final phrases Jesus uttered while crucified in his book THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY. While the title may be somewhat whimsical, this is not a feel good kind of spiritual book. Willamon's reflections are solid works that encourage people to encounter Jesus Christ as he dies on the cross. For Willamon, Jesus' suffering is real and his suffering is still meaningful for modern people, even though the current trend for many is to see themselves as more spiritual than human which can lead to almost denying the physical sufferings of Jesus. Though never graphic, Willamon is not afraid to confront the hard realities of Jesus' final moments in his ministry and believes we need to understand that Jesus' death is central to his life and the way he entered into his crucifixion says so much about him. Willamon does not focus as much on biblical scholarship or theological concepts as he does personal experience. The reflections are full of wonderful examples of how the words can be applied to our own day and age. The most appropriate time to use the reflections would be Lent and Holy Week, though one could argue that Willamon's reflections have something to offer at anytime of the year. While at times stark, Willamon's reflections are always hope filled and remind us of the reality of Jesus' love for us and have a way of helping us remember the full extent of Jesus' sacrifice for us and his ministry.