Good Friday

Sunday’s Coming

/ Virginia / Leave a comment

“It’s Friday. Jesus is praying. Peter’s a sleeping. Judas is betraying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Pilate’s struggling. The council is conspiring. The crowd is vilifying. They don’t even know that Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The disciples are running like sheep without a shepherd. Mary’s crying. Peter is denying. But they don’t know that Sunday’s a coming.

It’s Friday. The Romans beat my Jesus. They robe Him in scarlet. They crown Him with thorns. But they don’t know that Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. See Jesus walking to Calvary. His blood dripping. His body stumbling. And His spirit’s burdened. But you see, it’s only Friday. Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The world’s winning. People are sinning. And evil’s grinning.

It’s Friday. The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands to the cross. They nail my Savior’s feet to the cross. And then they raise Him up next to criminals. It’s Friday. But let me tell you something Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The disciples are questioning. What has happened to their King. And the Pharisees are celebrating that their scheming has been achieved. But they don’t know it’s only Friday. Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. He’s hanging on the cross. Feeling forsaken by His Father. Left alone and dying. Can nobody save Him? Ooooh it’s Friday. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. The earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My King yields His spirit. It’s Friday. Hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered. and Satan’s just a laughin’.

It’s Friday. Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard. And a rock is rolled into place. But it’s Friday. It is only Friday. Sunday is a coming” ~S.M. Lockridge

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From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save Him.”

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with Him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely He was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:45-54

What’s so Good about Good Friday?

/ Virginia / Leave a comment

Christ’s crucifixion was brutal. He was first flogged with a flagellum, a whipping instrument with bone, sharp shards, and iron balls attached. Jesus’ arms were extended so his back muscles were stretched tight. Roman soldiers would strike and twist the flagellum, each blow exposing more of Christ’s muscles and bones. The blood loss was terrible. It is the reason Jesus was so weakened that He could not carry the cross the entire distance to Calvary.

Jesus was beaten, spit upon, and mocked by the soldiers. A crown of thorns was mashed upon his head, digging the thorns deep into his brow. The crucifixion itself was ghastly; His wrists and feet pierced with eight-inch spikes. As Jesus hung on the cross, the only way to breathe was to push His feet up to relieve the pressure on His internal organs. It was a brutal death.

And yet, we still call it Good Friday. Not because of our suffering Savior and the pain He endured but because of why He died on the cross. He died for us… for you… for me… for all of us. Jesus loved us so much that He suffered and died to save us from eternal punishment. His blood washed away our sins so that we might live eternally with Him.

We must remember that Jesus’ life was not taken… it was given. That is why it is Good Friday. When soldiers led Him away from the garden, Jesus told His disciples, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and He will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:53-54)

Jesus endured the cross “to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28b) Because of His sacrifice, it is Good Friday for each of us. We need only accept His gift, and it is ours.

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“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)