For a long time, I did not understand what was so “good' about Good Friday. We commemorate the day that Jesus was beaten and hung on a cross for sins He did not commit - our sins. The crucifixion story that describes how Jesus was tortured and murdered is grisly to say the least. I chose this image today because too often people do not see the horror of Christ's death. The blood evidence is washed away like a retouched portrait. Torn flesh to the depth of bone (called a beating then) is now reduced to a few superficial scratches by artists- if depicted at all. We seldom see Good Friday as a painful scene. Yet,
He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, and acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
~ Isaiah 53:3 NLT
A savage crowd clamored for the death of Jesus. They were blinded to the truth of his real identity. They were deceived by their Jewish leaders, the Pharisees. The Pharisees were more afraid of Roman vengeance on the Jewish people who might claim Jesus as their king, than they feared being wrong about Jesus being their promised Messiah and King of Kings. How sad!
Good Friday is a holy day. A day of reflection about the sufferings of our Lord Jesus. He is our Redeemer who was debased, scourged, reviled, unjustly condemned and cruelly murdered by a mob who rejected Him in favor of clemency for a career criminal. It is no doubt the lowest act of humanity to date - to slay your own Creator God. It is unspeakably vile.
Yet it was our weakness He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down.
And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins!
But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God's paths to follow our own.
Yet the LORD laid on Him the sins of us all.
He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open His mouth.
Unjustly condemned, He was led away. Isaiah 53:4-8a NLT
There it is! The "goodness" in Good Friday is the GOOD NEWS GOSPEL OF CHRIST; for God‘s love for us is so merciful - He is not willing that any should perish for their sins. The goodness of the crucifixion of Christ is that he gave his life as a substitute for our sins. He was our Passover sacrifice; innocent of sin, but willing to suffer so that anyone who believes on him will be redeemed from God's wrath at the judgement. There is a price for sin, and Jesus paid it all on the cross of Calvary. God does not see the sins of a believer who confesses and asks God the Father for forgiveness. Instead, the Father sees nothing but the atoning blood of His Son, Jesus.
Therefore,
And this is His commandment: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with Him, and He with them.
And we know He lives in us because the Spirit He gave us lives in us. ~ John 3:23-24 NLT
The wages for sin is death, as we know. None shall escape that penalty on earth. But God promises that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. Please do not ignore the sacrifice that Jesus made on Good Friday so long ago. He died for us. He didn't have to. He loves us so much, that He suffered and paid that sin debt on our account. Think of it. If you have not accepted this FREE GIFT of salvation yet, please take care of spiritual business and get right with the Creator right now. Time is short, as our days are numbered.
Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time.
But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die. Isaiah 57:1-2 NIV
Thank You, Jesus, for dying for our sins and for asking Our Father to forgive those who hurt You. Thank You, Father God, for allowing Your only Begotten Son, Jesus to die on a cross so that we may live eternally with You. Thank You, LORD, that we no longer have to fear death, for in Christ we have victory over the grave.
HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOR!!
May your Passover Week be blessed with love and joy knowing Jesus as your Savior and Friend. Love to all, Sherron
Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo / kevron2001