Good Friday? What makes it “good”? It’s the day that Christ suffered and died! If you’ve seen the movie, The Passion, you’ve seen as realistic a depiction of what Jesus went through as we could ever imagine…. Gruesome and excruciatingly painful.
So…. why is Good Friday “good”?
Because that’s when the GOOD Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
Because of the spotless GOODNESS of the One who was crucified and died for us! (1 Peter 1:19)
Because of the unmatched GOODNESS that Jesus accomplished for all of us through His crucifixion (Isaiah 53:11-12)
One of my favorite Easter stories comes from Tony Campolo. He shared how he was visiting an African-American church in the Philadelphia area and had the pleasure of hearing their long-time pastor share his Good Friday message. I can’t quote all of it but it goes something like this:
“It’s Friday… there’s a Man hanging on a cross writhing in pain. It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday… and darkness overtakes the world. It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!
It’s Friday… and that Man cries out to His Heavenly Father… Who does not answer. It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!”
This is true in our lives too. Your world may seem dark and hopeless right now too. But you can be hopeful!! It may be “Friday” in you life… but hang in there— cuz Sunday’s coming! and we will celebrate Jesus coming out of that tomb! Just like the disciples who ran back to the upper room to tell the rest what they had just seen and heard, we can proclaim:
“HE’S ALIVE!!!!”
Max Lucado asked the question in one of his books: “Do you know why the stone was rolled away from Jesus’ tomb?” Most people would say… so Jesus could get out! But that’s not the case. The stone wasn’t rolled away so Jesus could out; it was rolled away so we could see in! And see the empty grace! HE IS RISEN!!! HALLELUJAH!
Have a blessed Resurrection Day!!!
