It is truly ironic that we Christians call this day Good Friday. On this day, so long ago, Jesus suffered in ways that we could never imagine. He was falsely accused, mocked and condemned early in the morning. By the early afternoon hours, Jesus was tried in a corrupt court and sentenced to death. The final hours became more treacherous and deeply painful. Jesus was tormented and made to carry his cross to the site where he was crucified. Even as He endured all of the pain and mockery, Jesus asked God to forgive those who tormented Him in some of the last words He would speak before earthly death. The following is taken from Luke:23.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”a
We are all familiar with having a difficult day. Jesus had the most horrific of days yet we call this day Good Friday because this is the day that Jesus atoned for our sins!! His sacrifice gave us eternal life and we are forever grateful, forever thankful!
How do we relate this to what is happening to us today? These are some of the most difficult days we have seen in a generation. We never imagined we would be facing an invisible enemy that has taken lives and changed the way we live so much.
We never thought that during the holiest time of the year for Christians, we would be separate from each other and unable to worship together. Let us focus instead upon Jesus’ divine act of grace on this Good Friday. When we are mindful of His sacrifice, our hearts overflow with gratitude! He sacrificed himself to give us this most incredible gift.
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
