What s so good about Good Friday ? We are in the midst of the Easter season . Recently we celebrated Palm Sunday , which signals the start of Holy Week . Approximately one- third of the four Gospels combined narratives describe the last week of Christ ’ s life , His death , and resurrection . This week is filled with a flurry of activity. Beginning on Sunday , we mark Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem , in which He was hailed as King while some on lookers waved palm branches in His presence and shouted Hosanna . Monday Jesus curses a fig tree because it did not bear any fruit , later that day He visited the Temple and found the outer courts filled with corruption. He then clears the Temple courts of the moneychangers . Tuesday morning Jesus and His disciples traveled back to Jerusalem along the way they found the fig tree withered and , Jesus used the opportunity to teach them about faith. Tuesday, was also the day that Judas Iscariot plotted with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus . To some the Wednesday of Holy Week is known as silent Wednesday because the Bible doesn ’ t say what Jesus did on this day. Some scholars believe that Jesus and His disciples spent the day resting in in expectation of the Passover. The Thursday of Holy Week is known as Maundy Thursday. It ’ s the day Jesus celebrated the Last Supper when He shared the Passover meal with His disciples . It ’ s at this time He set the example for us to celebrate Communion. Maundy is actually a Latin word mandatum, which means “commandment , ” Jesus gave the command to His disciples to serve one another in humility and love . Late that evening while praying in Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and arrested . Early the next morning Peter denies knowing Jesus three times before the rooster crows . It is now Friday .The Friday of Holy Week is known as Good Friday , the day begins with Jesus being placed on trial . Jesus faced false accusations, was mocked , and beat . He was even abandoned by those closest to Him, His disciples . After going through multiple trials , He was condemned to death by crucifixion. Jesus was led away by Roman soldiers who spit on Him , tortured and mocked Him . They placed a crown of thorns on Him, and then Jesus carried His cross to Calvary. He was then nailed to cross and after about six hours He breathed His last breath and died . So what ’ s so “good” about Good Friday ? To best answer that question , it is important to understand the Good News of Jesus Christ . The problem is sin , it is defiance and rejection of God’ s will; it is a willful act of disobedience. The Bible tells us , “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ” Romans 3: 23. Human kind is sinful and does not measure up to God’ s standard . The Bible also tells us , “For the wages of sin is death , but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6: 23 . When Jesus was on the cross He took our sins upon Himself. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us , so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” 2 Corinthians 5: 21 . Jesus took the death penalty for us . We were the one’ s who deserved to die for our sins . His sacrifice paid our debt . Jesus was our atonement for sin . Because of what He did we are now justified. We have a clean slate, just as if we never sinned . Jesus gives us a fresh start .That’ s what ’ s good about Good Friday , however it doesn ’ t end there . Sunday ’ s coming, and Easter is a celebration of Jesus resurrection . Jesus said , “I am the resurrection and the life . The one who believes in me will live, even though they die ” John 11: 25 . Jesus assures us that we too will live , after we die if we believe in Him . “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 ” John 3: 16 , that my friends , is what’ s so “good ” about Good Friday .
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:25:34 +0000
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