It took me a very long, long time to understand why it was called Good Friday.
If you read Matthew 27:1-62, Mark 15:1-47, Luke 22:63-23:56, and John 18:28-19:37 you will find Friday is by far the most difficult day of Passion week.
There are so many things that transpired in this short period of time. We cannot possibly cover them in this blog. Here are the highlights:
Judas was overcome with remorse and hanged himself early Friday morning.
Before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment.
After multiple unlawful trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of capital punishment known at the time.
Before Christ was led away, soldiers spit on him, tormented and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns. Then Jesus carried his own cross to Calvary where, again, he was mocked and insulted as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross.
Jesus spoke seven final statements from the cross. His first words were, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34 His last words were, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Luke 23:46, NIV (This does not include all the things that transpired - Jesus being stabbed - the earthquakes, veiled being torn and more.)
Then, about the ninth hour (3 p.m.), Jesus breathed his last breath and died.
By 6 p.m. Friday evening, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body down from the cross and lay it in a tomb.
If you have never read the events of Good Friday, please, take a moment and read them.
There are so many things that happened in these final hours that can be talked about, studied and pointed out. This day can be considered one of the darkest days in human history yet it is also one of the if not the most important days. As hard as it is to read - to imagine - to think about. As hard as it is to come to the realization that it was me ... I was the reason for Jesus' suffering and His pain and ultimately His death... as heartbreaking as it is to know He went more willingly to the cross than I go to my knees to even accept the grace afforded to me... as heart stopping as I find it to accept the unconditional love that is found right there, written in to the story as I read it, I sit with tearful eyes and know beyond a shadow of a doubt, without one shred of uncertainty Jesus died for me - instead of me and so that I could have eternal life.
I want to end with this:
Take a moment to watch this video. This can be found on YouTube. (DISCLAIMER: Harvest Ministries does NOT own this video. It is posted using the public domain as a YouTube subscriber. All rights belong to the original owner. It is not to be copied or shared without consent of the original owner. This video is being posted and shared in accordance with the copyright laws of YouTube and media owners.) It is very powerful in its message and sums up the message for the day. Watch it. It is well worth the watch.
Join us tomorrow as we continue our journey through Passion week.
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