19
Apr '19
Good Friday
19
Apr '19
How ironic that the absolute worst day in Jesus’ life is known to us as “Good Friday”. Mind you, I’m grateful that from our perspective it is a “good” day. Jesus took MY place that day so I would never have to face the rightful judgment that MY sins deserve. That is “good” for ME.
However, I don’t ever want to forget that there was nothing “good” about that Friday for Jesus. His Friday started in the early hours when a mob arrived to arrest Him on false charges. He was led away ALONE, as most of His best friends ran away. The two disciples that stuck around, did so only at a distance. Through the night and into the morning He endured false accusations, ridicule, being spat on, his beard ripped out, hideous beatings (torture and scourging to be more exact), and His best friend on Earth denying 3 times that he even knew who Jesus was. No, there was NOTHING good about this Friday for Jesus, and it’s only 9:00am at this point.
For the next 3 hours, Jesus endures the crucifixion process, all with a body already beaten and whipped beyond recognition. Drag the heavy cross… endure the taunts from the same people who had cheered His entrance into Jerusalem just 5 days ago… stripped naked… hands nailed… feet nailed… and it’s just noon.
For 3 more hours Jesus endures the torture of the cross. Torture I can barely imagine. Pushing up against the nail in his feet, a rough cross against His shredded back, so He could catch a breath. Continued taunting from the crowd for a miracle to prove He was God by coming down from that cross. How many times He must have been tempted to miraculously free Himself from that cross and tell the world to go to hell. I couldn’t have blamed Him. He hadn’t done anything – absolutely anything – to deserve to be there. I PUT HIM THERE!
Then the worst happened, God the Father put MY sins – and your sins – on Jesus. God the Father had to turn His back on Jesus as He couldn’t look on MY sins that He saw in Jesus. For the first and only time in all of eternity, Jesus was separated from the Father. Nothing about this horrible day was worse than that moment for Jesus. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” I can only assume Jesus heard the kind of hushed response you would hear from a broken-hearted father who had to turn their back… “Because of the sin, my Son, because of the sin!” Not Jesus’ sin, MY sin.
Then Jesus gave up His spirit and died. For me… for you. Yes, Easter is coming and the story gets better, but let’s not forget how horrible that Friday was for Jesus. Let’s not forget that we’re responsible for that day – I’M responsible for that day.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ” – JOHN 3:16 NASB
Jesus redeemed me (and you) that day. Let’s not forget what it cost him to pay that price. Take a moment to listen to the song “Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave and read the lyrics (link below). Be reminded of why Jesus endured that horrible day. Be reminded why we can call it Good Friday.
Pastor Ron
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