The Goodness of God

Today is Good Friday. The anniversary of our Lord's death upon the cross. A day the devil and his band of followers mocked Jesus and spat upon God's greatest gift. Upon this day, heaven labored to do a good work, the eyes of man could not see.

For our Lord, this historic day was filled with great pain, suffering, and sorrow. For His Spirit was separated from the Father, his flesh was destroyed,his heart carried the burden of every sin and His chosen people were blind to their Messiah.
Those close to him were terrified, in shock and confused. His own mother's heart was pierced. Insight into Jesus' life and ressurection temporarily eluded them and they also experienced great pain.

This eternity changing day, brought suffering for many. For on this preparation day Mary experienced heartbreak through the agony of witnessing the "flesh of her flesh" and "heart of her heart" destroyed,(The Passion of the Christ). Over this twenty-four hours, the disciples and followers of Jesus wept due to fear, shame, heartache, despair and loss of hope. One man, Simon, having carried Jesus' cross, suffered the bloody and violent journey up Golgotha at our disfigured Lord's side. The streets of Jerusalem were filled with cries for death and for mercy. I dare say, there was no peace that Passover!

Even the apparent enemies of our Lord, experienced trouble on this day. There was the unsettling of three hours of darkness, and upon Jesus' death a ground splitting earthquake. The tombs of saints burst open, releasing their dead just before the Sabbath. The Levite priests and others anguished over the miraculously torn Temple curtain: the veil was torn--top to bottom--which separated man from the extremely restricted mercy seat of God on the Ark of the covenant. The Roman ruler, Pilate, stressed over the threat of an uprising following Jesus mock trial and the death sentence he ordered for an innocent man. Pilate's wife suffered the affliction of a frightful dream concerning Jesus, whom her husband did not spare after her warning. The holy city of Jerusalem, bursting with people eager to make sacrifices for the Passover, was anything but peaceful, on this bloody day tainted by such violence and a gruesome death.

Why then do we call it Good Friday?

Oh, there is so much to say in response to that question. For the whole bible points to the cross of Christ: the need for and purpose of the cross explained by God. However, the primary purpose of the cross of Jesus is our reconciliation with God. Jesus suffered death and separation from God in our place: paying the sin penalty of death for all men. Only because of His sacrificial death is man able to come into a relationship with God. Jesus was the literal flawless, sacrificial lamb, offered by God, whose blood, through death atoned for the sins of man. Thereby, granting any soul who seeks forgiveness under the covering of Jesus' blood eternal life in God's presence.

Those who witnessed the horror of Jesus' arrest and the cross, were immediately touched. Mary saw the fulfillment of prophecy through her son's death. A proud Peter discovered his weakness. John, a "brother of thunder," witnessed the greatest act of love known to man. Additionally, the disciples who fled, became aware of their worldly fears.

That day, only Jesus knew Sunday was around the corner. The weary followers who huddled together behind locked doors in fear, remembered nothing of what Jesus had taught them of His death and were naive to the glory about to sustain them. But oh, that wonderful third morning: the terrors of that bloody Friday instantly turned to treasures, when Jesus rose from the grave.

On that first Easter morning, Mary's heart was made new with the Resurrection of her son. Peter was forgiven his denial and reinstated as a leader of the church. John learned the importance of love and caring for others. Thomas learned the importance of faith. And the other followers discovered they truly had nothing to fear: for Jesus had conquered death, in Him they could do all things. On a grander scale, humanity was offered a bridge back to an eternal relationship with Almighty God.

Hallelujah! The enemy of God found himself defeated.

We claim the anniversary of Jesus' death good, because without this historic dark, terrifying and horrific day ...no one could have a truly good day. For it is only in eternity that saints will experience all the good and purity God intended to share with us from the beginning. Who are the saints who will experience the glory of heaven? ONLY those who choose to hear the voice of God, see the work of His hand,accept the truth of His son, and through repentance, surrender their lives to Jesus of Nazareth.

For Jesus said, "I am the way the Truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me," (John 14:6NIV).

The Goodness of God, given for our good. THAT'S why we call today Good Friday!

Let us submit to the King of Kings and commit our spirit's to the Father now that we may be certain to receive the eternal goodness to come beyond the grave!