The Good Friday Reproaches
Apr 10 by Ingrid Schlueter
Historically, Christians have often used the “Good Friday Reproaches” in their worship. At our church’s Good Friday service we will be using these antiphons and responses—the rebukes of Christ to His people. As we remember the dying Christ on the cross, the reproaches speak to every one of our hearts: “My people, what have I done to you? How have I offended you?”
“My people, My people what have I done to you, how have I offended you? Answer me!
I led you out of Egypt from slavery to freedom, but you have led your Savior, and nailed Him to a cross.
Holy is God, Holy and Strong,
Holy Immortal One , have mercy on us.
For forty years in safety, I led you through the desert, I fed you with my manna, I gave you your own land, but you have led your Savior, and nailed Him to a Cross.
O what more would you ask from me? I planted you, my vineyard, but sour grapes you gave me, and vinegar to drink, and you have pierced your Savior and pierced Him with a spear.
Holy is God, Holy and Strong,
Holy Immortal One , have mercy on us.
For you scourged your captors, their first born sons were taken, but you have taken scourges and brought them down on Me.
My people, My people what have I done to you, how have I offended you? Answer me!
From slavery to freedom I led you, drowned your captors. But I am taken captive and handed to your priests.
My people, My people what have I done to you, how have I offended you? Answer me !
Your path lay through the waters, I opened them before you, my side you have laid open and bared it with a spear.
My people, My people what have I done to you, how have I offended you? Answer me !
I led you, held securely, My fire and cloud before you, but you have led your Savior, hands bound to Pilate’s court.
My people, My people what have I done to you, how have I offended you? Answer me!
I bore you up with manna, you bore me down and scourged me. I gave you saving water, but you gave me soured wine.
My people, My people what have I done to you, how have I offended you? Answer me !
The kings who reigned in Canaan, I struck way before you. But you have struck my crowned head, and struck it with a reed.
My people, My people what have I done to you, how have I offended you? Answer me !
I gave you a royal scepter but you gave me a thorn crown. I raised you up in power, but you raised me on the Cross.
Holy is God, Holy and Strong,
Holy Immortal One , have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, slain for the sin of the whole world, with penitent heart I come to your cross, pleading for mercy and forgiveness. My sins – and they are many – have added to the burden of Your suffering and have nailed You to the accursed tree. For me You tasted the agony of the utter darkness that I might not perish, but have everlasting life. Have mercy upon me.
O Christ, Lamb of God, embrace me with Your love, and forgive me all my sins. Your death brings healing to my soul, peace to my mind, cleansing to my heart. If You would mark iniquity, I could not come, for my hands are unclean, my lips are sullied, and my heart is blackened by sin. But beholding You bleeding, despised, forsaken, dying, pierced, I come to be cleansed and forgiven.
O Christ, Lamb of God, grant that I may hate sin and wickedness more and more as I behold You in Your great agony. My grateful heart today finds hope in Your words, comfort in Your promises, and salvation in Your finished work on the cross, by which You have overcome sin, Satan, and death.
–Lutheran Book of Prayer
