Today is a day in Christianity that we remember and observe the fact that Jesus died on the cross. Ever since I was little the Passover week, Good Friday, and Easter or Resurrection Sunday (whichever you prefer) have been celebrated in my life. I have dressed up in a pretty dress on Sunday, and the boys put on their best and head to church to celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead and all that means for those who believe. And it’s exciting! And the statistics of attendance are peaked because it’s just what you do on Easter Sunday. But today. Good Friday. Good Friday?
I’ve asked Jesus this question over and over again even though He gives me the same answer, maybe I keep asking because the answer is far from my comprehension. I don’t know if anyone else asks this question,
Why did you do it Jesus? Why were you silent, why did you take the beatings? Why the cross, the most excruciating death in all history? Why is this “good”?
Every time I ask I get the same answer. “Because this is how much I love you”
When I mediate on this it just doesn’t make sense, when you study or learn what the death on the cross actually means and all Jesus had to endure leading up to the cross tears me apart. I can’t imagine watching His life play out where all He does His whole life is heal people, love people, restore people, and set them free. A life that is perfectly lived and then He is punished for it. In the worst way possible.
I try and picture it but I can’t, I know it had to happen, which that’s probably the hard part, I know because of scripture this had to happen, line by line, verse by verse to be fulfilled, this was Gods plan from the beginning and Jesus knew it when He came to earth, this was ultimately His mission.
I’ve messed up. I’ve pained Gods heart. I’ve sinned knowing who I was sinning against. I was part of the reason why Jesus chose to go to the cross, to save me from my sins that could have lead me straight to death and hell. Hell was not Gods plan for my life or yours.
I’ve pictured myself kneeling at the foot of the cross with Jesus still on the cross and Him saying “This is how much I love you” to protect you from death, from hell, from shame, from guilt, from pain, from fire, and from the sinful life. In exchange to give you forgiveness, to give you freedom to not walk in shame or guilt, to give you abundant life, to give you power to overcome sin, and to give you Me. Forever.
I don’t deserve it, you don’t deserve it, but it was Jesus’ free choice to go to the cross or not, and He went because of an inexpressible love for you and for me. He died and conquered every sin and enemy once and for all.
I was reading earlier something that I knew God wanted to tell me through a bible study with my teammates. It said “the resurrection on Sunday is what makes good Friday good”.
He came from the cross a dead man, but three days later rose from the dead as the living Son of God.
This is the first Easter that celebrating my faith in Jesus is not so popular. We are in a strictly Muslim country with Hindu’s as well as other traditional religions, but not Christianity. There are mosques and temples everywhere like there are churches in the South. So maybe God wants me to know more fully the cross and resurrection because I’m going to have be okay with asking the question, why did you take our sins knowing most of the blood you spilled and the price you paid people would never believe, people would mock and make fun of? And through all confusion and choices we make God still says “I love them this much”.
Take time and dig deeper with me this weekend, to not only inviting people to Easter Sunday but inviting them to hear the Word of God every Sunday. You take Christ everywhere you go, so invite them to hear your testimony, invite them into life with Jesus as your example. Some people don’t want to dress up in dresses and bow ties to hear a sermon. Maybe they can hear it from you in Walmart or in a bar or in class.
He never gets old. Jesus’ story never changes, He along the way changes us.
It’s seriously hard writing a blog about the death of Jesus because my words seem so unequal to God’s word. John 16-21 is a good place to start!
Hebrews 12:2
Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Romans 5:8
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
Colossians 2:14
By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Philippians 2:8
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
1 John 3:16
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
Galatians 6:14
But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Have an Amazing GOOD Friday! And remember the amazing grace that happened that day and the goodness of our Heavenly Father! God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good:)
Thank you too all my supporters! I pray you will reap what you sow! Thank you for pouring into this ministry! God bless!
~ Gabby
#Malaysia
