It's Good Friday

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. (Matthew 27:45-50 ESV).

Today is “Good Friday” and the day we remember Jesus’ death on the cross. It almost seems impossible to call it “good” when you remember the events. After all, not only was Jesus killed, the events gave the enemies of Jesus and his followers free rein to pursue them with the same murderous intent. Jesus anticipated the confusion and anxiety with the following encouragement: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1-6 ESV). That is good news! It’s good for us. Jesus had to leave in order to prepare a place for us by first making peace with God on our behalf. Through his death we have been given a gift of unity in Him. We all experience a sense of separation from God. No one, not one man, woman, or child ever born shares anything except the fallen nature. Our common sin produces a common need for a Savior, and for all who believe, Jesus provided the one and only way. Tony Campolo has a great sermon titled “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.” In it he recites some of the vents of the day in dramatic form. Here’s the last of that poetic refrain: It’s Friday. He’s hanging on the cross, feeling forsaken by his Father, left alone and dying. Can nobody save him? It’s Friday; but Sunday’s comin’. It’s Friday. The earth trembles; the sky grows dark; my King yields his spirit. It’s Friday; hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered and Satan’s just a laughin’. It’s Friday. Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard and a rock is rolled into place. But it’s Friday. It is only Friday! Sunday is a comin’! It really was a good Friday after all! Rejoice!