Happy Good Friday?
Happy Good Friday? How can we describe as “Happy” a day that was so very sad?
Also called Black Friday, Holy Friday, and Great Friday, we celebrate this day on the Friday before Easter. The Scriptures tell us that on this day, nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus was arrested, accused, condemned, and killed. If anyone was there to be His advocate, we do not know of it. There is no report of such advocacy in the Biblical accounts.
But in this account of this day we read of darkness having its way. Everything that could “go wrong” did. Or did it? As Bob Goff says, “Darkness fell. His friends scattered. All hope seemed lost. But then heaven just started counting to three.”
Looking at this story from the end backwards, we know what the disciples and those who killed Him did not - that He would indeed rise again! How can we then look at this story with a freshness our world desperately needs?
We can receive that freshness by becoming desperate.
When I realize the depravity within me, I become desperate for forgiveness, cleansing, and renewal. As Jesus told Peter, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet…” (John 13:10) Our foot washing comes when we seek the answers to God’s promises, transparently open our hearts to His Word, and see the sin within us become increasingly obvious as we draw closer to the sinless Savior.
Desperation comes when I think of that Day when I will see Jesus face to face. I want to know Him so well (and He knowing me) that there is nothing that can come between us as I seek to completely trust Him. In that trust, I long to be His advocate on this earth - to speak in love on His behalf this incredible life-changing truth: "that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared” (1 Cor. 15:3-5) not only to the disciples then, but He appears still to all who call upon His Name.
Wherever you are in this world, be sure to celebrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ this weekend and every single day: that God loved us SO much He fulfilled His promise (according to the Scriptures) and gave His only Son to die for our sins so that we may truly live.
Do not let the frost of familiarity freeze your faith! Let desperation for Jesus thaw out your trust in Him and joy in Him and peace from Him and zeal for Him!
Also called Black Friday, Holy Friday, and Great Friday, we celebrate this day on the Friday before Easter. The Scriptures tell us that on this day, nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus was arrested, accused, condemned, and killed. If anyone was there to be His advocate, we do not know of it. There is no report of such advocacy in the Biblical accounts.
But in this account of this day we read of darkness having its way. Everything that could “go wrong” did. Or did it? As Bob Goff says, “Darkness fell. His friends scattered. All hope seemed lost. But then heaven just started counting to three.”
Looking at this story from the end backwards, we know what the disciples and those who killed Him did not - that He would indeed rise again! How can we then look at this story with a freshness our world desperately needs?
We can receive that freshness by becoming desperate.
When I realize the depravity within me, I become desperate for forgiveness, cleansing, and renewal. As Jesus told Peter, "The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet…” (John 13:10) Our foot washing comes when we seek the answers to God’s promises, transparently open our hearts to His Word, and see the sin within us become increasingly obvious as we draw closer to the sinless Savior.
Desperation comes when I think of that Day when I will see Jesus face to face. I want to know Him so well (and He knowing me) that there is nothing that can come between us as I seek to completely trust Him. In that trust, I long to be His advocate on this earth - to speak in love on His behalf this incredible life-changing truth: "that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared” (1 Cor. 15:3-5) not only to the disciples then, but He appears still to all who call upon His Name.
Wherever you are in this world, be sure to celebrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ this weekend and every single day: that God loved us SO much He fulfilled His promise (according to the Scriptures) and gave His only Son to die for our sins so that we may truly live.
Do not let the frost of familiarity freeze your faith! Let desperation for Jesus thaw out your trust in Him and joy in Him and peace from Him and zeal for Him!
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