Lent – Good Friday: But you are holy

Apr. 13, 2022

Kamehameha Schools has created a series of Hawaiian-focused devotionals for the season of Lent, to honor the deep Christian faith of KS founder Princess Bernice Pauahi Pākī Bishop. The devotionals were designed to be used by students, staffers and others to celebrate the coming of Easter.

Heluhelu Baibala
Bible reading

E koʻu Akua, e koʻu Akua, no ke aha lā ʻoe i haʻalele mai iaʻu? A i ʻole ai e kōkua iki mai iaʻu i ka leo o koʻu ʻulono ʻana? E koʻu Akua ē, ua kāhea au i ke ao, ʻaʻole naʻe ʻoe i lohe mai; A i ka pō hoʻi, ʻaʻole i hoʻomaha iki. Akā, ʻo ʻoe ka mea hemolele. – Nā Halelū 22:1-3a

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season and am not silent. But You are holy. – Psalm 22:1-3a

He manaʻo o ke kahu
KS Hawaiʻi Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard KSK'77
But you are holy

Good Friday has always had a profound impact on me. It is the day that I am strongly reminded of the great sacrifice that Jesus demonstrated for me. He who knew no sin, became sin so I, so we could become the righteousness of God.

Imagine having great health but to help an ailing loved one all you would have to do is take their illness upon you and suffer in their place so they would be free from pain. Would you be able to do that? Now, can you imagine this scene at the cross whereby Jesus takes on not only your ʻeha, but all the world’s pain – past, present and future for your freedom, for our freedom?

God’s word reveals that while we were still sinners, Christ (who became sin for us) bore the shame and endured the agonizing hours of pain on the cross to establish God’s boundless love for us. So, when Jesus cries out to God using the same words as King David “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me, abandoned Me, left Me, it is because God the Father cannot tolerate sin, and now for this one dark moment of Christ’s life here on earth, he is SIN.

But the Son knows the love of the Father, and Jesus continues by saying, “But You are Holy.” These words reflect the lifestyle of our Messiah who walked and talked with God His Father each day and night. Holiness is the highest attribute of our God, and it defines God as pure, faultless, perfect, and truthful. Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” On this Good Friday, we honor and remember that our King trusted in God the Father, who is Holy, and became the Lamb of God.

Heluhelu Baibala
Bible reading

ʻŌlelo akula hoʻi ʻo ia iā Iesū, E hoʻomanaʻo mai ʻoe iaʻu, e ka Haku, i ka wā e hiki ai ʻoe i kou aupuni. ʻĪ maila hoʻi ʻo Iesū iā ia, He ʻoiaʻiʻo kaʻu e ʻōlelo aku nei iā ʻoe, I kēia lā ʻo ʻoe pū kekahi me aʻu i loko o ka paradaiso. – Luka 23:42-43

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” – Luke 23:42-43

He manaʻo o ka haumāna
KS Hawai‘i senior Kealohilani Grace
#FOMO

#FOMO – the fear of missing out. We have all been through it whether we would like to admit it or not. FOMO is the very essence of our culture today, beginning with every social media platform available and streaming down into our daily lives. In school, in sports, or at the store watching for the next big deal, we never want to miss out. It is the want to be a part of something greater than ourselves. This is where we find ourselves saying, “I want what that person has.”

In fact, one of the criminals to the side of Jesus on the cross was facing this exact presence of FOMO. He knew that Jesus was the real deal: the way, the truth, and the life. He would not miss out on this opportunity to seek a better future. This man understood that even at his lowest point, he could put all his faith into the One who promised life. While his physical fate may have been decided already, the criminal hoped for more – for something greater than himself.

At this exact moment, FOMO was no longer. When Jesus proclaimed that the two would meet in Heaven, I imagine the peace that soothed the atmosphere around them. This goes to show that Jesus’ arms are open to us, no matter our pasts. We just need to give Him our fears and seek His guidance.