“Good” Friday?

Today we remember – the bleakest day of our faith, when evil people crucified the perfect One. And, we call it ‘good.’  

Life is often like that, isn’t it? We go through dark times, we experience circumstances that are hard, and something beautiful emerges from our hopelessness;
a new compassion,
a new depth of love for God,
a better understanding of who we are.  

The world shook that awful day 2 millennia ago, the sky darkened, evil rejoiced, heaven wept, and then all was still. At the end of those atrocities, there was a bloodied body, laid in a borrowed tomb.  Such was  that “Good” Friday. But the Gospel writers, reflecting decades later, tell us that Jesus was not killed, He chose to die.  He was purposeful in doing for this world what it could not do for itself, restoring humanity to the Creator, building a bridge to our Father. Thus, it is now, for us, Good Friday.

The Cross cannot be marginalized, nor ignored, ugly as it is. Paul gives us the summation of the Good News of our peace with God with 3 key facts. "By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that (1) Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that (2) he was buried, that (3) he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures," (1 Corinthians 15:2-4, NIV)

Some who are repulsed by the idea of bloody sacrifice choose to look past the Cross. The mystery of faith is that sacrifice of life for life is at the heart of reconciliation with God. The first covenant required the sacrificial lamb; the second the Lamb of God. The Word tells us that "Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that great, perfect sanctuary in heaven, not made by human hands and not part of this created world. Once for all time he took blood into that Most Holy Place, but not the blood of goats and calves. He took his own blood, and with it he secured our salvation forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ritual defilement.

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our hearts from deeds that lead to death so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, so that all who are invited can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant." (Hebrews 9:11-15, NLT)

 This “Good” Friday consider the Cross and worship humbly. What was accomplished by Jesus that day flows down through time to you, to me! We are recipients of grace, the family of God, with the promise of Life Eternal because He chose to give His life. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit," (1 Peter 3:18, NIV)

Don’t worship the Cross, worship the Savior.
Don’t fixate on the evil, rejoice in the love in evidence in His choice to give Himself.

Yes, it is “Good” Friday, the bleak day that gave rise to Resurrection Morning, the most glorious Day.

This is the Gospel of Christ!

 (Video of this blog at this link)

____________________

Alas And Did My Savior Bleed

Alas and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sov'reign die
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I

Was it for crimes that I have done
He groaned upon the tree
Amazing pity grace unknown
And love beyond degree

At the cross at the cross
Where I first saw the light
And the burden of my heart rolled away
It was there by faith I received my sight
And now I am happy all the day

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glories in
When Christ the mighty Maker died
For man the creature's sin

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While Calvary's cross appears
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness
And melt mine eyes to tears

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe
Here Lord I give myself away
'Tis all that I can do

Isaac Watts  Words: Public Domain

 

Silence!

 

The chaotic events swept around the disciples of Jesus. At the Passover meal He told them His time had come, that He would be betrayed by one of them, and be taken to die. Later that same evening, He led them to Gethsemane where His prayers were interrupted by guards accompanied by Judas. In terror they fled into the night after Peter’s brief bluster with one of the soldiers. They watched from a distance while Jesus was subjected to a mid-night interrogation. Peter’s courage collapsed and he swore he did not know Jesus, then fleeing into the night sobbing. With the dawn Jesus was dragged from Herod’s court to Pilate’s palace, then beaten to a pulp, and finally handed over for crucifixion. The mob taunted Him as He hung on the cross, until the earth shook and the sky darkened, then He died!

When the tempest died, there was only silence, the awful silence of fear and confusion.

Can you imagine the heaviness in the air when they assembled in secret the day after the Crucifixion, stunned by what they had seen and heard over the previous 48 hours?

Jesus’ promise of Resurrection was incomprehensible, therefore forgotten. He was dead, buried, and their hopes seemed to die with Him.

Christian friend, sometimes we live in those moments, too. Sometimes life takes on a frenetic pace, filled with chaos, and then comes the silence after the storm passes, or death finally comes, or the divorce decree is finalized, or …  

Yes, the silence can be hard, full of grief and questions, wondering what choices could have been different.

The ancient counsel of the Word is that we learn to wait. "The nations are in an uproar, and kingdoms crumble! God thunders, and the earth melts! The Lord Almighty is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress." (Psalm 46:6-7, NLT) “Be silent, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10, NLT)  The Hebrew word that is translated ‘silent’ in that line is one that includes the meaning of weak, feeble, or faint. When we become more aware of our limits, of our inability to control life, we can become more aware of the Presence of God’s Spirit. The silence can serve a holy purpose.

Most of us do not deal well with those times, however.  We fill up the silence with noise, activity, words, music, and distractions; afraid to be alone with our thoughts. Are you willing to engage the silence, to wait in faith,

As we approach Good Friday, I urge you to find a time and place of retreat to silence. Many churches are open for prayer on Maundy Thursday. Make time to go and sit quietly, hands and heart open to God’s Presence. (Faith Discovery Church, 33 Brass Castle Road, Washington, NJ will be open from 9 to 3)  Or perhaps your sanctuary is the back yard at your home, or a corner of a park, or a pathway in the woods.  The place is not that important. The willingness to listen, to keep silence, to ‘know that He is God,’ is the aim.  Great comfort can be found when we are wrapped in a profound awareness of His Spirit when we silence ourselves before Him!

Here is a word from the Word.
"But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy."

(Habakkuk 2:20-3:2, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

____________________

Once Again

Jesus Christ
I think upon Your sacrifice
You became nothing
Poured out to death
Many times I've wondered
At Your gift of life
And I'm in that place once again
I'm in that place once again

Once again
I look upon the cross
Where You died
I'm humbled by Your mercy
And I'm broken inside
Once again I thank You
Once again I pour out my life

Now You are
Exalted to the highest place
King of the heavens
Where one day I'll bow
But for now
I marvel at this saving grace
And I'm full of praise once again
I'm full of praise once again

 

Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross
Thank You for the cross my Friend

 

Matt Redman

• © 1995 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Into the Darkness

 

Ever had to make a choice you knew would be difficult or painful because you knew there was much to be gained? Marathon runners amaze me with their choice to train for long, hard months, subjecting their bodies to hardship. Why do they do this? So that they can complete the race and know that satisfaction that comes with accomplishment. People choose medical procedures that make them miserable, at first, with the hope of getting well. It may be cliché but it is true  - It’s always darkest before the dawn!

Christians mark this as Holy Week, a time to remember, with gratitude, Jesus' willingness to descend into darkness that was incomparably worse than any choice we make. He told His friends, "As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." (Matthew 26:2, NLT) He knew it would be terrible, and He was filled with dread at the thought of becoming sin for us.  

 A few weeks ago I stood in that garden where He prayed - "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." (Matthew 26:39, NLT)  My heart was moved when I contemplated the awesome struggle that led to my reconciliation with God. Yes, Jesus surely knew the Cross was His destiny and He knew the Resurrection was His hope. But, even with that hope, there was a choice to be made that involved death and suffering.

His sacrifice was not forced on Him, He willingly embraced the agony of the Cross, the shame of being the sin-bearer, for us only for love’s sake. He made the choice to descend into the darkness, not for Himself, but for us. His loss was our gain. His obedience bought our salvation from sin, death, and Hell! He bridged the uncrossable chasm that sin carved between the Father and His Creation.  He is worthy of our worship this week, our quiet adoration in silent memory.

We must not rush past the bloody Cross
to get to the glorious Empty Tomb!

The glory of the Resurrection morning
would not be possible without Good Friday's suffering.

Know this, too. It may be that you are confronted with some difficult spiritual choice in your life where the will of God leads against your desires. The road He calls you to walk leads through pain of self-denial, even death to Self. Will you do it? Will you willingly descend into the dark of that situation, so that He can lead you into the Light of His purposes? 

Here is the Spirit’s encouragement - "Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV) Look past the pain to the Glory! Grasp the promise of abundant life - presently and eternally - and present yourself as a 'living sacrifice.'  

Mediate on Paul’s words, letting the call to selflessness own you – heart, soul, mind, and strength. " Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. " (2 Timothy 2:10-12, NIV)

The word from the Word is my prayer for you- "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21, NIV)

(Video of this blog at this link)

____________________

At The Cross (Love Ran Red)

There's a place
Where mercy reigns and never dies
There's a place
Where streams of grace flow deep and wide
Where all the love I've ever found
Comes like a flood comes flowing down

At the cross at the cross
I surrender my life
I'm in awe of You I'm in awe of You
Where Your love ran red and my sin washed white
I owe all to You I owe all to You (Jesus)

There's a place
Where sin and shame are powerless
Where my heart
Has peace with God and forgiveness
Where all the love I've ever found
Comes like a flood comes flowing down

Here my hope is found
Here on holy ground
Here I bow down here I bow down
Here arms open wide
Here You saved my life
Here I bow down here I bow (down)

Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jonas Myrin | Matt Armstrong | Matt Redman

© Countless Wonder Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Songs (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

 

CCLI License # 810055