Good Friday! What is it good for? The day of sacrifice and forgiveness, leading to salvation and reconciliation with God, for all, THAT IS GOOOOOOOOOD!
The biggest evil in the world was the killing of the Saviour of the world. The biggest act of love in the world, is through God’s Son Jesus, dying in our place. The biggest miracle in the world, was when He rose for us. A supernatural significant moment in history. ‘A past event, and a presence salvation,’ as Paul Fiddes wrote. At that past event on the cross, we remember the seven sayings of Jesus as He died for each of us. Each saying has significant lasting impressions to everyone who heard them and hears them today.
Take aa few minutes to read each one slowly pause and read the meaning for each saying.
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do": You are forgiven. Free from the power of sin Luke 23:34, expresses Jesus's compassion and forgiveness for those who crucified him, recognising their ignorance of the true nature of their actions.
"Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise": Believing in Jesus, is the way Luke 23:43, offers a promise of salvation and eternal life to one of the criminals crucified alongside Jesus.
"Woman, behold your son...Behold your mother": Caring for each other John 19:26-27, to Jesus' mother, Mary, and the beloved disciple, John, entrusting Mary's care to John.
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?": Even when we don’t feel it, God is working Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34, expresses Jesus's profound sense of abandonment and suffering.
"I thirst": Thirsting for more of Jesus hydrates us spiritually John 19:28, highlights Jesus's physical suffering and dehydration, which was a common symptom of crucifixion.
"It is finished": He completed what He came for. Until we go to be with Him, we can do more John 19:30, signifies the completion of Jesus's work of redemption and the finality of his sacrifice.
"Father, into your hands I commend my spirit": Trust and surrender, makes us stronger Luke 23:46, expresses Jesus's trust and surrender to his Father's will as he gives up his spirit.
Which of these sayings moves you most and why?
The world is desperate for authentic love. The love that none of us have can or will ever perfect this side of heaven. We will get it wrong in some way. Why? This world is broken. The whole of humanity is broken. Romans 3:23-24 reminds us that we all need His grace
3 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
In essence, the cross has said it all. We are forgiven. The heavy heart every disciple carried on that Friday and Saturday, is a sign that without Jesus everything seemed meaningless, pointless and hopeless. When He rose, all Jesus had taught begun to make sense to the disciples. These last sayings, begun to connect and make sense.Each of these sayings are for us all to remember, Jesus was dying to love us. We have the perfect love that drives out all fears, we need not fear death anymore, for he has taken the sting of death for us. Death has no sting; death has no victory! Good Friday is good, for the good God did for us all. Dying to love, He died for you.
Prayer: Lord, help me to love, like you love, forgive like you forgive, praise you even in my suffering. Amen