03-29-2024 Good Friday

                             Today is Good Friday. On this night when we think about the suffering of our Lord,  we have to wonder where is the good in Good Friday? Let's take a look at that tonight.  First, here is how Satan wants mankind to see this day:

                             Good Friday.  How can one describe such a day?  The wrongdoing of humanity, putting to an end an innocent man, the Son of God.  This is the story of Jesus' death by way of a cross.  All in one moment, bringing death to the bright light of our future.  He never stopped loving us.  And yet, this is the incredible part of it:  our sin stopped His heart.  Our sin drove the nails firmly in the hands of God.

                             All along these were the plans.  We told ourselves that we were in control. And this was deemed sufficient for us: The brutal beating, the inhuman flogging, the naked humiliation.  Heaven watched and saw it all.  Our rebellion, our guilt, our shame, erasing the very notion of reconciling us with God.  Our sin and our debt, overcoming Jesus.

                             Here is our King obliterated.  The enemy laughing; His plans obliterated.  There's no longer the sound of freedom rising; now God's people are utterly broken.  Behold the  chains of mortality.  Yes, this is what is true. 

                   We heard the stories of old.  The lost are found, the blind can see, the weak are made strong.  But now we are witnesses to this reality:  God is dead.  We almost believed there is a way of redemption, there is a life of fulfillment, there is a peace beyond understanding.  Now we know better. 

                   For us we can say that God is encapsulated in this one realization:  The single greatest sacrifice in human history -- it is finished.  How clearly we can see it.

                   Satan makes this all sound pretty grim.  But here is how true Christians see the good in this day:

                    How clearly, we can see it -- it is finished!  The single greatest sacrifice in human history encapsulated into this one realization:  we can say that God is for us.  Now we know better.  There is a peace beyond understanding, there is a life of fulfillment, there is a way of redemption. 

                    We almost believed God is dead.  But now we are witnesses to this reality:  the weak are made strong, the blind can see, the lost are found.  We have heard the stories of old.  Yes, this is what is true.  The chains of mortality utterly broken!  Behold freedom rising; now God's people are unstoppable.  There is no longer the sound of the enemy laughing -- his plans obliterated.

                    Here is our King Jesus overcoming our sin and our debt.  Reconciling us with God, erasing the very notion of our rebellion, our guilt, our shame.  Heaven watched and saw it all:  the naked humiliation, the inhuman flogging, the brutal beating.  And this was deemed sufficient for all of us.

                    We told ourselves that we were in control but all along these were the plans.   Our sin drove the nails firmly into the hand of God.  Our sin stopped His heart.  And yet, this is the incredible part of it:  He never stopped loving us. 

                    All in one moment bringing death to the bright light of our future -- this is the story of Jesus' death by way of a cross:  The Son of God, an innocent man, putting to an end to the wrongdoing of all humanity.       How can one describe such a day?  Good Friday. 

                   What's so good about it?  Just one thing:  that the blood of Jesus can reverse the curse of sin and raise the dead to eternal life.

                   Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.