Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- March 29, 2013
“So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). Here they crucified him…” John 19:16b-18a
Good Friday is really good for those who have come to the foot of the cross of Jesus, in repentance and faith. It is a commemoration for Christians of the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of the world. Through a cruel and grueling death, Christ gave His life—His body wreathed in pain, so the sick could be healed. He felt abandonment, so the rejected could be accepted. He knew no sin, but became sin, so sinners could be forgiven.
“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).
Oh what salvation and love—the Lord’s life consummated on Calvary. Oh what forgiveness—His raspy voice reiterated. Oh what compassion—His swollen face communicated. Oh what grace—His nail pierced hands activated. Oh what good news—His nail pierced feet initiated. Oh what humility—His crown of thorns demonstrated.
It is Good Friday, because the good news of Jesus Christ’s love and forgiveness has been proclaimed around the world for almost two millennium. Taste and see that the Lord is good. He is good on Friday, but He is great on Sunday—because on the first day of the week He rose from the dead. Friday is good—but three days later is better—for He lives! Indeed, some who killed Him instantly recognized Him for who He was—they believed.
“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, Surely this man was the son of God” (Mark 15:39)!
Good Friday’s come and Good Friday’s go, but how is it with your soul? Does the cross of Christ move you to emotion—are you a grateful and engaged follower of Jesus? If not, embrace and celebrate the Cross. Ask your heavenly Father to restore the joy of your salvation, or maybe, you are coming to Him for the first time in faith and trust. Surely, this man must be the Son of God—who came to save you and the world from their sins.
Make today a meaningful memory of what your master Jesus did for you. Linger long in reflection of the love that flowed down, and mingled with His precious blood. See His hands, see His feet; oh what love that makes your joy complete. You serve a risen Savior, who’s in the world today—He walks with you—He talks with you—He gave His life just for you. Good Friday is good—because Jesus is good—and His cross is God’s loving gift.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Prayer: How can I celebrate Good Friday as a sacrifice of praise and gratitude to God?
Related Readings: 1 Corinthians 1:18; Colossians 1:19-20; Galatians 6:14; Hebrews 12:2
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Although I celebrate the death/burial and resurection of my saviour Jesus….I must comment about Good Friday being the day he died? If Jesus rose on Sunday that is not 3 days and 3 nights in the grave. I understand him to have been crucified on the Thursday and then it would compute. . . day wise. No matter what – He paid the price on the cross and He rose again from the dead and He is coming again….Amen and Amen. God Bless You.
Carolynne,
When Jesus speaks of his resurrection, he says “the third day” (Luke 18:33), “three days later” (Mark 10:34).
A Jewish day was counted as evening to evening (Genesis 1:5,8; Leviticus 23:32). We see that Jesus died before the end of Friday (day 1), and Joseph of Arimathea came to request the body of Jesus as evening came (Matthew 27:57). We also see that once evening came on Friday, they considered it now to be the Sabbath (day 2) (Mark 15:42).
The third day began on the evening of the Sabbath. In Mark 16:1-2, we find the two Marys bringing spices to an empty tomb “when the Sabbath was over…very early on the first day of the week”.
We also see the two men on the road to Emmaus later that day saying “it is the third day since these things happened” (Luke 24:21).
So we have:
Crucifixion – Day 1
Sabbath – Day 2
Resurrection – Day 3
I think the difference in understanding this, is that the resurrection was to occur ON the third day, and not AFTER 3 full days have been completed (in which case that would mean he rose on the fourth day).