Good Friday Communion Devotional 2025

a response to John 13:36-38; 18:15-18, 25-27

In our time together this evening, we have walked with Peter through his declaration of allegiance and then his denial of Christ. In his denial, we recognize his rejection, his turning away from the one whom he once embraced because of his fear of man. So we examine our own hearts and the ways we also have denied our Lord whether in fear of man or the pride of a self-confident heart.

Denial is not a word we use very often in our self-reflection. In our most honest moments, we may be able to name our actions as sin, but denial? Sin is an action against God’s will for our lives, but denial represents intentionality, a choice against God. We deny his wisdom. We deny his judgment. We deny his rule. We deny his love. If sin is doing, denial is a state of being.

But we need not live in a state of denial. In the grace of God and sacrifice of Jesus, we have the opportunity to repent. The word repent has its root in the concept of turning. In the same way that denial is turning against God, repentance is turning toward him. And in doing so, we make our denial not of him, but of the world and its stronghold of sin in our lives. We deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him.

As you come to communion tonight, let it be a representation of your repentance, a declaration of your own heart cry, “Yes I know him,” and a remembrance that God’s love is not deterred by our denial. For Jesus, in fact, looked into the faces of his disciples who would scatter in fear, into the eyes of Peter who would swear oaths against him, into the heart of Judas who would betray him to death, and into each of our hearts here tonight and says, “This is my body broken for you. This is the cup of the new covenant poured out for you. Whenever you do this, remember me.” 

Father God, we come before you with repentant hearts, to this physical representation of your sacrifice and the grace that brings us to it. We confess the many ways we deny you. We remember the agony cross and the love that kept you there. Thank you for your body broken. Thank you for blood spilled. Thank you for the Cross.

I invite you now to the Lord’s table of communion in remembrance of Him.