Good Friday

It's an interesting series of emotions; although I'm not sure they can truly be called a series when they come all at once. A blend maybe?

Good Friday. Over two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ, God incarnate, died to make right the world and relationship mankind ruined. He died to bring all of creation back to a right place before our triune God. Even though this act, this greatest act of passion, love, and infinite mercy, was planned from the very moment of our Fall, it was not easy. It was not quick. Our all-powerful Creator and Savior suffered and died for us. A perfect lamb, offering Himself up, a sacrifice to cover the stains of our soul, to soothe the desolation of the earth, and to prove to Death itself that it would not hold sway over anything God claimed.

The most beautiful act in all the history of the world. Jesus the Messiah died for His creation. Agony and bliss together.

I was not alive for the garden of Eden. God already knew me, as He always has and always will, but I was not present. I did not control the hands that grasped the tree branch and pulled, nor the lips that opened or the teeth that bit. But had I been there, I would have committed Eve's betrayal. I too would have shared with my husband. Anyone who claims anything to the contrary is naive. None of us would have stood up to Satan, that master deceiver. All of us would have given in to curiosity, to humanity, and caused the fall. In full knowledge, disobeying the God who had only ever loved us and provided for us. And more than that. Even with the knowledge of our heritage, the infamy of our past in full view, we continue to sin. Sin is inherent in us at birth, and our aching bones, weak muscles, and minds full of deceptions as our life progresses do nothing to disprove this contention. Throughout our lives we sin more than we even can begin to consider. I sin. And for those sins Christ died. He died for what I have done, and what I will do, just as much as he died for what Adam and Eve did in the garden so long ago. I burn that I am part of the reason for His pain. Jesus will stand forever with the scars on His hands, feet, and side because of me. Not me alone, but certainly me.

But oh the bliss! Jesus died for me! I am free because He loved me. He has redeemed my soul from going down to the pit and I WILL LIVE TO ENJOY THE LIGHT. He has restored my relationship with Himself, with God the Father, with the Holy Spirit. Because of what Jesus died on Good Friday, His horrendous death on the wooden cross, and because He rose again three days later, Easter, I can be in communication with the God of the universe, the Creator of all things! I can bask in His Love and be sure of His grace.

This is the day of days. Our God died this day for the sins of all mankind. And I am saddened for its necessity, yet immeasurably thankful for it. It's beautiful It's amazing. It's the purest and most fantastic demonstration of the truth of God and His Love that can be imagined. The all -powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing, wonderous God of all things came to Earth, lived, was perfect, and died in perfection, and rose again. There is nothing more than this.

I pray that this knowledge would be made real for us every day of our lives. And I pray that we would live accordingly-- thankful, aware of our inability to be worthy of that sacrifice, but still striving to love and obey our Lord and Savior all of our lives.

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!
Let all of creation praise His name!