Good Friday
Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See Him dying on the tree!
’Tis the Christ, by man rejected;
Yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!
’Tis the long-expected Prophet,
David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
’Tis the true and faithful Word.
LSB 451 st. 1
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—”
Deuteronomy 18:15
What does it mean when Jesus is called a prophet? The Old Testament is a prophecy that leads to Him, so what purpose does Jesus have in prophesying to us? There is not a second Savior that will come after Him; Jesus is not going to give us a second law to follow. Looking back, the Law had been given to Moses and he is repeating it in Deuteronomy, but it was only by Christ that it would be fulfilled. In order to atone for our lack of observance of the Law, God would become incarnate and die for us. While Jesus, fully God and fully man, is dying on the cross—stricken, smitten, and afflicted—He speaks the words of life to all believers: “It is finished.” This is the Word of God incarnate that achieves our salvation and marks its completion.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, You call us by Your Word and keep us steadfast in Your truth. Help us to hear the words that You speak to us in Word and in Sacrament; the words that grant us life through Jesus’ death, and grant us hope through His resurrection. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(Zachary Johnson, Sem I)