What is so “Good” about Friday?

/ diggingher

 

the Cross

As I sat this morning in the quiet of the living room reading, meditating and reflecting on the season of Easter I had several thoughts come to mind.I read through the accounts of Good Friday in each of the Gospels. Each one offering slightly different details of the events of the fateful morning of Jesus’ crucifixion. What follows are my some of those thoughts.

First off, it was under the cover of darkness that Jesus was taken into custody. The dark is often a scary place to be. We can feel alone and afraid as we stumble along in the dark. Evil deeds are often committed in the dark of night. Darkness came first it was God who said, Let there be Light. For Christ’s followers the Joy comes in the morning, in this case Easter morning, when we celebrate the Resurrection.

The holy men of the time took Jesus to Pilate for trial and conviction. The charge, “he is stirring up the people with his teaching.” Luke 23:5. Really? The leaders of the time were so entrenched with their “traditions” they could not see or hear their God who was standing in the flesh speaking to them. I think that this happens to us today. We can become “stuck” unable to move into the new place or thing that we are being called into, unable to leave the safety of the comfortable nest that surrounds us, unable or willing to venture into a new place.

Jesus did not endure death on the Cross so that we could be comfortable. He died so that we may live. He came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 And when He died this responsibility was passed onto us. We have become his change agents.

I am afraid that in our efforts not to “offend” anyone we have become soft and have watered down our Gospel. We too often are afraid to step out and touch someone who desperately needs Jesus. How can this be if we are living in His Kingdom which is filled with light? Have we become lukewarm in our desire to share His love? God does not desire lukewarm followers,… So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.Revelation 3:15-17

The religious men of Jesus’ time missed the boat. They were afraid of the change. They thought that their king would look different. So they killed him. The crowd chanted and raged, “Crucify him”, over and over until Pilate turned him over and released a known murderer.

They beat him bloody, dragged him, spit on him, tortured him, made him carry is own cross through the streets up the hill where he would have spikes(not nails) drove through his wrists and feet, hoisted up causing jolting of his body, and left to hang for all to see. Does this make you uncomfortable? Can you imagine the pain? Jesus endured the cross for us. So that our despicable sinful way could be made right and we could be reunited with God sharing in His glory forever in eternity. This my friends is the Good News. No watered down version here. No soft selling. No lukewarm temperature. This is truth. Whether you like it or not doesn’t change it.

I pray that if you know Jesus you will become on fire with His love. If you do not know Jesus I pray that you will come to know Him and share in His wonderful love. He died for you. Amen

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6 thoughts on “What is so “Good” about Friday?”

  1. I like your term, “change agents”, what a unique description of how Christians should be. That might be a novel way to start a conversation with an unbeliever or stranger: Two strangers on a bus/plane/train/business gathering/whatever: “What line of work are you in?” “Well, I happen to be a Change Agent…” Then, proceed with how Christ has changed our lives. Cool!

    I also like your take on change as relating to being open to new ideas, directions. I know this is not what you are talking about but, we are in the midst of packing and moving–whoa, talk about change. And I’m seeing that while I’m packing up my pretties, maybe it’s time to change and let some go–get out of that rut of hanging onto so much and living the same way as before. Maybe this is my opportunity to change! In fact, I know it is!

    Easter blessings!

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    • Hi,

      Over 2011 the Lord led me through a series of pairing down exercises. This was probably slightly easier for me than for my husband but I can tell you truly worth the freedom it has brought. I think there is still more scaling back to be done in my life, after all it is a process but every day has potential for a step in the right direction if I yield to His call and direction.
      Thank you for taking time to leave a comment. I am always happy when something I write inspores others.

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  3. hi Paige,
    it is well past Good Friday, but i didn’t have a chance to read this until now. thank you for sharing your heart in this post. i just poured out my heart in a reply comment that somehow disappeared before i could click on ‘post comment’. but maybe it is just as well, because it was quite long, and after all – this is your blog and not mine 🙂
     
    the gist of what i wanted to say was i really liked what you said – “Jesus did not endure death on the Cross so that we could be comfortable. He died so that we may live.”
     
    and i also said that i love the invitationality of the words spoken by him, before he died about giving life, and that abundantly.
     
    i also liked the intention of your words. what you say is a reminder of what a gift this life is – freely given to us without a sense of compulsion, obligation, or necessity – so that we in turn can freely live and share it without a sense of compulsion, obligation and necessity.
     
    i think that Good Friday is good because it paved the way for freedom and a genuine life – kind of like the name of your blog. authentic. not contrived. not watered-down and yet at the same time wise and fair. joyful and not under compulsion. willingly and not out of obligation. and freely and not out of necessity. and above all kind. that is one of my favourite attributes of Jesus – who as you know was here to show us what God is like. Kind, so very kind.
     
    and at the same time he is full of justice – such as when Jesus cleared the temple of the money-changers. they were taking up space which was intended for foreigners so they could worship. so he was ruthless when that was called for.
     
    and yet when it came to those who were honestly seeking, or who were deemed outcast and condemned by the religious leaders, he was compassionate. ‘come to me all who are weary and heavily burdened’.
     
    one of my favourite quotes is – love without truth is not love. and truth without love is not love. Don’t know who said it, but Jesus lived that out.
     
    bless you again for sharing – and continued blessings to you as you live out the abundant life in your corner. be encouraged to continue doing so freely, joyfully and mercifully 🙂
     
    believe it or not, this is the shortened version of my previously intended comment. 😀

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