Good Friday

Good Friday

2021

What was promised to us at Christmas has been fulfilled to us on Good Friday.

Isaiah 9:2 NIV

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Jesus promised to come into our dark world and bring us the hope of salvation.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 NIV

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

“In the ancient world, it was the role of gods who laid claim to ruling the universe to uphold its order by inflicting punishment – not to suffer it themselves.”—Tom Holland (Historian)

The cross looked like defeat, but it was a finish line!

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We can finish the race because Jesus finished the race.

We can endure. We can persevere. We can overcome!

The innocent one has assumed the charges of the guilty ones so the guilty can become innocent.

When our wickedness had reached its height, and it had been clearly shown that its reward, punishment and death, was impending over us…

He Himself took on Him the burden of our iniquities! He gave His own Son as a ransom for us, the holy One for transgressors,

the blameless One for the wicked,

the righteous One for the unrighteous,

the incorruptible One for the corruptible,

the immortal One for them that are mortal.

For what other thing was capable of covering our sins than His righteousness? By what other one was it possible that we, the wicked and ungodly, could be justified, than by the only Son of God?

O sweet exchange!

From The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus, circa 130 A.D.

What’s buried that needs to stay buried?

What’s buried that needs to be resurrected?