04/15/2022
Good Friday, which is an oxymoron: a phrase with words that seemingly contradict each other. Some say the reason it’s called Good Friday is that the antiquated word for good was “holy.”
That could be, but for true believers, it’s all about the good that God makes out of bad. In this case, the terrible torture and murder of Jesus, as bad as it was, delivered something that was infinitely good.
But this day, the day of Jesus’ ex*****on, was all bad.
GOOD FRIDAY REPRESENTS A DAY OF PAIN.
Friday was a day that Jesus went through the trial, the beatings, the crown of thorns, and the crucifixion.
It started just after midnight as Jesus and His band of followers headed out the Eastern/Golden Gate, across the small Kidron Valley, to a garden at the base of the Mount of Olives called Gethsemane. This may have been the worst of the tortures Jesus was to endure. In that Garden, His divinity wrestled with His humanity to the point that His body began to sweat drops of blood, a rare condition called hematohidrosis
He kept pleading with His Father to allow Him to avoid the great humiliation, suffering, and darkness ahead of Him. But in the end, He surrendered: “Not my will, but yours, be done.” -Luke 22:42
Let me point out if Jesus could have come and paid for sins at any point in history, and he just so happened to come at the point of history when capital punishment was at its worst. It was no accident he came and died when he did. Had he died today, he would have died by lethal injection.
You might ask, “why then, and not now?”
JESUS WANTED TO EXPERIENCE HIS DAY OF PAIN SO HE COULD HELP YOU IN YOUR DAY OF PAIN!
Many are hurting today, living with:
PHYSICAL PAIN: Many reading this are sick, some battling cancer, Covid, MS, fibromyalgia, or worse. Jesus understands and has compassion for those physically hurting today.
EMOTIONAL AND RELATIONAL PAIN: Many live with the sickness of the soul, depression, anxiety, fear, and worry. Jesus’ family DISMISSED His claims He was who He said he was. A close friend of His BETRAYED him, another very close friend DENIED knowing him. Many others who once followed Him, REJECTED Him.
Have you been dismissed from a job?
Have you been betrayed, felt the pain of being stabbed in the back, denied, and rejected by a cheating spouse who you loved and trusted?
SPIRITUAL PAIN: Some have experienced “church hurt.” A leader or a person in a church has hurt you, abused you, and left you to pick up the shattered pieces.
JESUS KNOWS HOW TO TAKE OUR PAIN, FRUSTRATION, HEARTBREAK, REJECTION…AND FLIP IT AROUND AND ADD PURPOSE FOR THE GOOD!
Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Seven hundred years prior to that day, Isaiah the prophet saw what was happening: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” -Isaiah 53:5–6
This Good Friday, think about what great pain and suffering Jesus
went through for you. He knows and can identify with your pain and suffering.
PRAYER: Jesus, thank You for enduring such horrible pain and suffering on the cross. I cannot imagine, nor could I have borne what You went through. You took upon Yourself all the pain and suffering the world deserved and gave me everlasting life. I’m so
grateful for Your gift of salvation. Amen.
