And We Call it Good Friday!

Good Friday morning, March 21, 2008
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 millennia ago today, Jesus was crucified, and we (those of us who speak English and live on this side of the cross) call it Good Friday! For some reason, I have a difficult time believing that His followers (those who lived on the other side of the cross) saw this particular Friday as a being anywhere close to a good one. The truth is the day of Jesus’ crucifixion was a nightmare for them—every second of it. Strangely, the only person who got any pleasure out of this day was none other than God Himself! Listen to the words of the prophet, Isaiah, keeping in mind that God is eternal (He lives on both sides of the cross simultaneously!): “But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, . . .” (Isaiah 53:10). Go figure!
The truth is “Mourning Friday” would better describe what Jesus’ followers did on the day of (and the couple of days following) His crucifixion. In their minds, all was lost and they were frightened (actually scared-to-death!) and angry (infuriated is a better descriptor), not to mentioned confused, as in “termite in a yo-yo confused.” They were mourning (what was to them) an incredible loss! Try as we might, it is very difficult, if not impossible, for those of us who live on this side of the cross, to even imagine what they went through on the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, and it is, certainly, impossible for us to begin to comprehend what Jesus went through on this Good Friday.
Now, listen to these words: “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isaiah 53:5-6). And we (those of us who speak English and live on this side of the cross) call it Good Friday and for Good reason— “. . .and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Hallelujah for the cross and for the Christ of the cross!
“Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb! Redeemed through His infinite mercy; His child and forever I am.” Although those are not my own words, they surely do come from my heart!
Remember: it is Friday and Sunday IS coming!

PS: We will have a Good Friday service at Grace Christian Fellowship tonight at 7:00 and you are invited. If you cannot attend (for some of you distance might be somewhat of a problem!), please pray for us as we gather to celebrate the cross and the Christ of the cross.