Today on Good Friday, the story of Jesus’ passion—from his arrest to his burial—is read in its entirety from the Gospel of John. Today a strange and fearsome mystery is witnessed. The infinite One is held; the One Who loosed the curse of Adam is bound; the One Who tries the inward heart of humans is Himself tried; He Who sealed the deeps is sealed in prison; the One before Whom the powers of heaven stand quaking before Pilate; the Creator is struck by the hand of the creature; the One Who judges the living and the dead is judged for the Cross; the One Who despoiled Hell is shut up in a tomb. Lord of forbearance, enduring all our love, and saving all from the curse, glory to You. From the Orthodox liturgy for Holy Friday Afternoon.
