Good Friday…a seemingly paradoxical kind of day. One that
represents suffering, pain and death. For us as humans,
disillusionment, fear, betrayal and cowardice. What can be good about
this day?
Of course having the
knowledge of the end of the matter, that answer seems easy. But put
yourselves in the shoes of someone who really didn’t or couldn’t
of known what was happening. This day, when Jesus was brutalized,
beaten and crucified seemed like a complete and utter defeat. All
hopes being dashed and destroyed in but a few hours.
This day, Good
Friday had been preceded by thousands of years of broken human
history of pain, suffering, injustice and sin as humanity did what it
does best; trying to make our own way instead of following God’s.
What we see on this day was the answer to all of that. The story is
an amazing one. How God chose a special people to reveal Himself to
the world be living differently. But even that was not enough because
they often failed and became captive to the very things they were
supposed to show others there was a different way.
The many sacrifices
that allowed temporary fellowship between God and man were now
complete. The promised One who would crush the serpent’s head
accomplished His mission.
If you don’t know
the story, check it out. See what lengths that God has gone to
reconnect with His beloved creation.
While we do have the
joy of resurrection ahead, that does not mean now on this Friday we
can’t lament and acknowledge the pain we all feel and suffer. And
yet, in that pain there is the torn veil. At the moment of Christ’s
death, the symbol of separation was broken to now show the way is
open, and we can now go boldly before our King, friend and Savior!
On this Good Friday,
let us all be thankful for the greatest gift of love that any of us
can and ever will receive. Salvation and forgiveness of sins that
comes from Jesus on the cross.