SO WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY?
Here is the amazing yet confronting reality.
Not YOU and not ME but JESUS
In ourselves we are broken, rebellious and sinful.
Scripture says, “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God” Rom 3:23
Here is the confronting reality, our sin causes death, death literally, death in our families, death relational, emotional and ultimately Spiritually. Death is not just an interesting side bar of human existence but the real statement of the justice that God must bring against rebellion. Sin must be judged. No right judge allows rebellion to continue just because he feels like it. That is injustice.
You already know it, the pursuit of self in our world brings everything down.
YOU are what Scripture describes as a sinner, SO AM I. 1 John 3:4 says “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness”. When we break the law of God we sin. Sin is rebelling against God (Deut 9:7, Josh 1:18)
What is GOOD is not really this life because no matter how 'good' we think we are, or how good life is, it is only comparing broken with broken. If this can be your best life then worry, worry a lot.
However what is GOOD about 'Good friday' is JESUS
“He is the image of the Invisible God” (Col 1:15) Perfect, pure, holy, loving, merciful and full of grace.
So loving that...
“Whilst we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8)
Good Friday is the game changer, when Sin is dissolved through the Grace given through Christ' death on the Cross.
For us to truly live in his life, Christ took our death. He has taken our punishment, he carried our burdens.
HE was BEATEN, SCOURGED and HUNG on a CROSS to DIE. Why? Because God's love put him there to bear the punishment for my sin.
I no longer need to be ruled by sin but can TRULY LIVE because of, in and through God's GRACE. YOU can live in HIS life, if you turn from death, your way and follow him. YOU can take part in his life and the mission of God for this world.
“...he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 – also quoted in 1 Peter 2:24)
I can have life because he takes my death. This is not just “GOOD Friday” but “I am amazed at the Love and Grace that God would have for me Friday”
BUT WAIT...This is not over yet... there's more...