Good Friday

 A cross, hammer, nails, beatings, pain, agony, grief, punishment, how can “Good” Friday be derived from such actions? Since the day Adam and Eve sinned against God and humanity was separated from Him, a plan was in place to bridge that gap. A sacrifice had to be made and blood must be shed for the sins of mankind. There was no way around it. Humanity had been cutoff from their relationship with the Father. Scripture says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. However this could not be the blood of animals such as bulls, goats, and turtledoves, but from perfection. Thus the Son of God was born to a virgin girl named Mary in Bethlehem. He was born to die. He would die for you and for me. He was that perfect sacrifice that was to be offered for all humanity.

So, we fast forward to the Friday of the sacrifice, a day when justice met grace. Jesus had been scourged, beaten, spat upon, mocked, belittled, and ridiculed. Yet in front of Him was a cross. A cross to which He could have said “no, I don’t have to go”. In front of Him, a hammer and nails, pain and death; so why would He go: FOR YOU AND FOR ME. His love was so strong and He knew that He was the only way in which humanity could be restored to a right relationship with their Father.

Isaiah 53:10 says, “it pleased the Lord to bruise Him”. Why would the Father be pleased to bruise His only Son? John 3:16 gives the answer, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” We must understand that the reason it is called “Good Friday” is that it is good for all mankind. It is good because the blood was shed that can wash away all our sins and we don’t have to ever again be separated from our Heavenly Father. To be totally honest YOU are why it is called “Good”. God loved you so much that He was not willing that you should perish. He sent His Son to become death so that, through your accepting Him as your Savior, you could have life. Hebrews 12:2 says, “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” You are that joy! He did it for you and for me. If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, today is the day of salvation. He is ready. All you need to do is repent of your sins, ask His forgiveness and ask Him to come into your heart to be your Lord and Savior.

Good Friday. Good because death gave way to life....life for you and for me. To God be glory today and forever. Thank you Father for your unconditional love.