Ah, Good Friday

Good morning My Ekklesia Family

Ah, Good Friday. The very name can feel like a paradox, can't it? What could possibly be good about a day marked by betrayal, suffering, and death? Let's look into the heart of this profound day.

Imagine a vast, unpayable debt hanging over you, a weight crushing your very soul. You've tried everything to erase it, but the burden remains, a constant shadow. Then, someone steps forward, someone pure and innocent, and offers to pay that debt in full, not with silver or gold, but with their very life. That, in essence, is what we remember on Good Friday.

Consider the words of the prophet Isaiah (53:5): "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." This ancient prophecy finds its stark fulfillment in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The "piercing" and "crushing" speak to the brutal physical suffering He endured. But the key lies in the phrase, "for our transgressions," "for our iniquities." Jesus, the sinless Son of God, willingly took upon Himself the full weight of our sin, the rebellion, the brokenness that separated us from a holy God.

The "punishment that brought us peace" is the divine justice satisfied on the cross. God's righteous anger against sin was poured out not on us, the guilty, but on Jesus. And "by his wounds we are healed"—spiritually, relationally, eternally. The shedding of His blood became the ultimate atoning sacrifice, the cleansing agent that washes away our sin and reconciles us to God.

Good Friday, therefore, isn't good in the sense of worldly pleasure or ease. It is profoundly good because it marks the ultimate act of love and sacrifice. On this day, the sinless Lamb of God was slain, not for His own failings, but for ours. The cross, an instrument of torture and shame, was transformed into the altar of redemption. Through His suffering and death, Jesus conquered sin and death itself, paving the way for our forgiveness, our healing, and our eternal life.

Good Friday calls us to several vital responses:

* Humility and Repentance: Recognizing the immense cost of our sin should lead us to deep humility and genuine repentance. We acknowledge our need for a Savior and turn away from the things that nailed Him to the cross.

* Gratitude and Awe: The magnitude of Christ's sacrifice demands our deepest gratitude and awe. We stand in wonder at His selfless love that would endure such suffering for us.

* Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Just as Christ forgave us, we are called to extend that same forgiveness to others. The cross breaks down walls of hostility and empowers us to pursue reconciliation in our relationships.

* Boldness in Witness: Knowing the transformative power of the cross compels us to share this Good News with others, inviting them into the same grace and redemption we have received.

Let us pray: "Heavenly Father, on this Good Friday, we bow our hearts in profound humility and gratitude. We confess our sins that contributed to the suffering of your Son. We surrender our lives anew to your will. Thank you, Jesus, for your unfathomable love, for bearing our burdens, and for offering us the gift of eternal life. Strengthen us, Lord, to live lives worthy of this great sacrifice, lives marked by forgiveness, love, and a passion to share your truth. Amen."

Take heart, beloved. The darkness of Good Friday did not have the final word. Sunday is coming! The resurrection is our hope and our victory. Because He lives, we too shall live!

Are you longing for a deeper connection with God and a vibrant community of believers? At Ekklesia Christian Life Ministries (ekklesiachristianlife.org), we are passionate about living out the Ekklesia—the called-out assembly—empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life of discipleship, impacting our world with the love and truth of Jesus Christ. We invite you to visit our website, connect with us, and discover how you can grow in your faith and be part of a movement that is making a real difference for the Kingdom of God. Come, let us walk together in the light of the risen Savior!

LoveUmorethanUknow

Pastor Stephän Kirby