Shema Prayer and Good Friday

As I rode the bike trail with our dog this afternoon, I was thinking of the crucifixion of Jesus.  Kind of the proper thing to do on a Good Friday afternoon.  For some reason, my mind went to Judaism’s Shema Prayer.  As I rode my thoughts alternated between the Shema Prayer and the crucifixion of my Savior.

The Shema Prayer is, and always has been, the centerpiece of the morning and evening prayer services of the people of Israel.  It is considered by some to be the most essential prayer of Judaism.

The prayer begins with these words: 

“Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.  Blessed is His name, whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

As I rode today, I could see people throughout Jerusalem, from the temple to the homes surrounding it, beginning the day with this prayer.  Beginning the day with these words.  And, at the same time, I saw Christ being judged before Pilate, and led to Golgotha.

Here’s a little of what I pictured.

“Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One”

The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.”  Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!”   And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”  Matthew 27:21-23 (ESV)

“Blessed is His name, whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.”

And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.   Luke 23:33 (ESV)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…”

And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”  Luke 23:35 (ESV)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your soul…”

 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”  Matthew 27:39-40 (ESV)

You shall love the Lord your God with all your might…”

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”  And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.  But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.   Matthew 27:45-50 (ESV)

Then I pictured the body of our Lord, taken from the cross, wrapped in linen, and laid in a borrowed tomb.  And, as the stone was rolled over the opening....from the temple to the surrounding homes….the prayer went up…

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“Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.  Blessed is His name, whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”