More thoughts on Good Friday

Some people don’t get Good Friday.  Admittedly, on the surface, it would seem strangely morbid to celebrate that someone died.  But Jesus Christ – the One we celebrate on Good Friday – accomplished something noteworthy when He died on that cross.  As a pastor once put it “Good” Friday is an understatement; it’s more like something amazing, incredible, and superb.  But I’m getting ahead of myself.

As I said last time, the Bible declares that we are all sinners, both by inherent nature, and by personal choice.  Make no mistake: sin may look appealing, enticing, and thrilling, but ultimately it won’t lead us anywhere except for death.  Not just physical death, but things like the death of purity, innocence, and decency in a life.  As a result of sin, humanity is estranged from God. 

But Jesus Christ the spotless Lamb of God, out of love, gave His life for us.  Alistair Begg writes, “At the heart of the Christian faith is a real Savior who suffered and died for our sins at a real time in history, [and] in a real place.” Billy Graham once said, “The blood that was shed on the cross when Christ died, has the power, 2000 years later, to wash all your sins away.”  This is what Good Friday is all about.

Last time, I quoted the first part of Romans 6:23; the verse in its entirety reads, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  No matter what you’ve done, God’s gift for you is eternal life in Christ.  Notice also that it is a “free” gift.  You don’t have to strive for it; you simply have to accept it, by faith.  If you’ve never commenced your personal relationship with the Lord, I urge you to do it today.  The Bible says, “Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”   Ask Him to forgive, cleanse, and wash you from your sin; and to be your Savior, friend, and Lord.  Tell Him that you want Him in your heart and life.

 

I began by saying that a pastor commented that “good” is an understatement when it comes to all that Jesus accomplished on that Friday.  Psalm 32:1-2 says, “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him, and in whose spirit is no deceit.”  What an unbelievable gift to have all your sins forgiven, and to have a friendship and fellowship with Jesus!  I can tell you from personal experience there is nothing quite as exciting as living a life with the God of the universe.  Charles Spurgeon was so right when he wrote, “There is a bottomless well of delight for every Christian who fellowships with God.”  My prayer is that you will experience this joy for yourself.

Kevin