Good Friday

“It is finished.” (John 19:30)

Looking at the crowd gathered on Calvary’s Hill a little more than 2,000 years ago, we see that the only people who were thinking there was any “good” taking place that Friday were the enemies of Jesus. To be sure, the followers of Jesus would never have imagined that anything good could come from what they had witnessed that day:

• Jesus was falsely accused.
• Jesus was beaten and spit on.
• Jesus was sentenced to death.
• Jesus was scourged.
• Jesus was given a crown of thorns.
• Jesus was nailed to a cross.
• Jesus was mocked and ridiculed while He was dying.
• Jesus was dead before sundown.

It certainly looked like evil had won the day when darkness covered the land and Jesus breathed His last. But three days later, on that first Easter morning, Jesus walked out of the grave alive and well. And all those who loved our Lord began to understand what God had been doing that Friday, and it was indeed good beyond measure! God sent His Son to die on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins, and God put His stamp of approval on His Son’s atoning sacrifice when He raised Jesus from the dead and Jesus walked out of His tomb that third day.

The question is this:

Has Jesus walked into your heart, making you alive and well?

If your answer is “Yes,” then today is a great day of celebration; it is indeed GOOD Friday — the best Friday ever! If your answer is “No,” why not simply surrender your life to Jesus right now? Admit your sin and the fact that you cannot save yourself, no matter how hard you try. Cry out to Jesus for salvation! He has promised to save all those who call upon His name, “for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Remember, the Good in Good Friday has a name, and His name is Jesus Christ. Call on Him, and know these twin truths: Jesus will never leave nor forsake you . . .  and the good work He has begun in you He has promised to bring to completion. Let those two truths set you free to rejoice in the most wonderful Friday that has ever existed in the history of mankind!

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!