Good Friday, Better Sunday
What is “good” about Good Friday? Granted it is the commemorative day that we celebrate Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, but if you were there that day, would you have called it good?
I have just revisited the account of Jesus dying on the cross. If I had been there that day I am not sure that I would have thought good of that day. While I am sure that there would have been confusion in my head as to why this was happening, I am confident that my emotions would have gotten the best of me as I would have been devastated to see my best friend being crucified. This would not have been a good day. As a matter-a-fact, I would imagine that this would not have been a good weekend. Sabbath would simply have not been the same without Jesus there. The singing, the worship, the meal, the fellowship: all of it would have felt empty.
Then waking up Sunday morning the first thought on my mind is that Jesus is dead. That empty feeling would have filled my stomach once more. My appetite would be gone as I could hardly eat breakfast. All I can think about is that Jesus is dead. Where there used to be light, now there is darkness. Where there used to be life, now I feel like death.
I make my way out to his tomb to prepare his body further. Upon arrival I find that He is not there and I am told by an angel that He is risen. Suddenly I am mixed with an emotion of both excitement and confusion. ”Where could He be?!” I turn to leave and I ask the gardner who is working on his crops if he has seen Jesus? After some brief dialogue this gardner calls me by name and I realize that it is Jesus! This day has become GREAT SUNDAY!
If you have seen Mel Gibson’s, The Passion you will remember the terrible scenes of Jesus being beaten, spit upon, and crucified. Many were horrified over how gruesome Jesus’ plot was portrayed, some even left unable to watch any more. What bothered me the most was how little emphasis was given to the resurrection. Why? Because while Jesus’ sacrifice on Friday is something that I am thankful for every day, it is the resurrection that assures me that Jesus is alive and well today. He has defeated death and the grave. He is victorious over all of the sins on this planet. He lives so that I too my have life and life more abundant. This to me is GREAT NEWS!
I know that Ellen White makes the statement that, “It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life.” While I see this as I too think that it would be well for us to spend one of the other 24 hours in the day praising God that He is alive and well today!
Posted by pastor matthew on March 20, 2008 at 10:21 PM
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Hello Matt,
Just thought I’d take a moment to post here. I first saw your testimony on 3abn and then last week on Friday, I was in Cedartown Georgia for my Job doing a computer install and when I walked out of my job on Friday at 4:30pm, My uncle in Collegedale came to mind. Long story, I ended up going to the friday evening vespers in Collegedale and picked up your discussions on the battle between flesh and Spirit. (Really felt it was a divine appointment . . Awesome!) Really spoke to me and has made impression. I understood it well but without getting into the specifics, I deal with some of the same issues you were discussing that evening, and for some, I’m sure your presentation was just shocking but to me it was real. The guilt one deals with when repeatedly doing the things you don’t want to and while in the midst of it liking what your doing. God is working with me on this and I just keep going back to him for help. It is refreshing to hear confessions. I have confided with an elder I trust and my fight is a matter of faith in God.
Ok, I have to confess, I’m not sure I get the following . . . I think I do but not sure.
Matthew 5:20 + Isaiah 64:6 + Matthew 6:33 = ?
Here is what I think I get. The requirements and standards of God are spelled out. He is a righteous God. Really, If I took the texts after Matt 5:20 at face value man I don’t think I could deal with Christianity. Either that or I would be walking around , or shall I say, I would be blind and limbless. I think it is unreasonable to take the gouging and gore at face value. Ok. Yes, I Know I’m no good, yes deprived and filthy, and God is a Holy Righteous, and good God. Matt 6:33 The seeking first his Righteousness and all these things being added unto you. What exactly is he saying?
Is it just that we need to seek His will in our life, follow what we know to be true, and trust the righteousness and forgiveness of God . . . and then “Life is Good”? not trying to be a skeptic or anything sounds almost too good to be true but I guess this is where faith has to step in.
Anyway how far off am I? with this “issue” I have, I have come to the point where I think my battle is with knowing Jesus through his revealed word, not with my acts of unrightiousness because Jesus is my rightousness, and He will continue to convict me of sin in my life and I’ll keep going back to Him. Man at some time My hope is He will fill me to the point where I just don’t do it anymore because it will be such an unatural thing for someone so close to Jesus.
Keep it up, you speak to even the 40 something generation.
I think that one of the Good things in Good friday is that Jesus tought us through the Dying criminal that He didn’t earn his way to heaven, He got there because He knew Jesus like Matt 7:23 teaches us about.
God is Good . . . All the time. . . Jon
Posted by Jon on March 21, 2008 at 07:12 AM | #WOW Jon! Thank you for taking the time to write. God is on the move and His Spirit is alive and well in those of us who simply believe!
I think that you are right on target. A big piece that I think we often miss is looking more at our sin and not enough at the Savior! However, one thing that I am learning as of late is how powerful it is to learn of our past, especially our childhood, and to bring healing into the destructive patterns that were created so early on. For me the healing comes about as I allow Jesus to speak His truths into the lies that I have believed for so long.
Let’s keep looking to HIM!
mwg
Posted by pastor matthew on March 21, 2008 at 12:23 PM | #Page 1 of 1 pages