Issue 1408 – Good Friday – March 29, 2024
Someone once asked me why Christians celebrate “Good Friday.” What could possibly be “good” about such horrific events?
It’s a fair question; after all, there is no denying that Jesus was falsely accused, wrongfully convicted, mocked, tortured and nailed to a cross, where He died in excruciating agony. The word “excruciating” comes from the Greek meaning “out of the cross” because crucifixion was considered the most painful form of death.
I won’t post the accounts of what Jesus endured; there isn’t room. Please take some time today to read Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 18.
Christians don’t celebrate Good Friday as much as we commemorate Jesus’s sacrifice on that fateful, God-ordained day. You may think it is merely a difference in semantics, but it is enormous.
Jesus was wholly God and wholly human but emptied Himself of much when He chose to come to earth in human form.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8
The Christ went willingly to the cross in obedience to the Father. He could have refused. He could have called down legions of angelic armies to protect Himself. Yet, His sights were set on a much bigger goal than the suffering.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to endure all that pain and experience death so we might be reconciled to Him. We are dead in our sin and unable to make things right on our own. We have no power of reconciliation or hope of redemption without Him.
The Good Shepherd loves us so much that he would not stand by and let us suffer eternally for our sin. He opted to come and endure the pain and shame so that we might be free.
We commemorate all that He did for us. Our souls faint at the thought of His punishment, but we also rejoice in the freedom that He gave us. We mourn the necessity of the cross but humbly thank God for sending His Son to redeem us.
Today is a day to recognize the cost of our sins, repent of them, and remember what it took to redeem us.
That Friday in Jerusalem was a solemn event, perhaps the most solemn day ever until the Lord returns in judgment.
The Friday was not good, but the good that came from it will endure forever. His sacrifice on that dark day paved the way for us to be saved by faith alone. That is the greatest gift ever.
The Good News comes at an extremely high price. Praise God today, and think about how much He loves you.
The day is black, but joy is coming. Jesus died that day, but He was also resurrected to life. He is our hope.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)