Good Friday and Easter Reflections

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What is Good Friday?

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday. It is representative of the day that Christ was crucified. This is a very important date in the Christian faith. It is the setup for the resurrection. The reason why we celebrate Easter.

Reflecting

As I reflect upon the events that are chronicled in scripture leading up to Christ’s death, (Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-49; and John 20:1-21:25) I am deeply touched by Jesus’ sacrifice.

He had a mission to fulfill and He was more than willing to do it.  Why? Because of His love for us and His obedience to the Father. He knew this was the only way that we could be reconciled to God himself.

I recently watched the movie, Son of God, which depicted the scenes we mentioned in the verses above. While watching the portrayal, I was reminded of the humanness of Jesus. He was divine, yes.

But He was also a man. He felt physical and emotional pain like the rest of us. And in doing so He was able to relate to us in a more intimate way.

Despite knowing what lay ahead of Him, the suffering and death, He moved forward with the plan anyway.  That’s not to say He didn’t struggle some, He was, after all, a man.

As mentioned in Luke 22:42, we see Jesus going off to pray. At one point asking God the Father if it was His will, to “remove this cup” from Him.

I believe in His humanness, He didn’t want to have to suffer such a death, but ultimately He knew this was the will of the Father and He willingly went forward with it. *

His Love and Sacrifice

The fact that Jesus’ humanness was so apparent at that time, really moved me. It made me feel even more connected to God. And that was precisely part of His plan. Jesus coming to earth as a man, to live like us, to feel like us is one of the reasons why He can understand when we go through sufferings in our own lives.

Now, His sufferings and ours are likely very different, but pain is pain. Hurt is hurt. Jesus was betrayed by a friend, chased after by His enemies, denied and abandoned by his close companions, and brutalized unjustly to the point of death. 

Despite all of this, Jesus’ overwhelming love for us and The Heavenly Father compelled Him to complete His mission.  And because of that crucifixion and death on the cross, we are able to have Easter Sunday.

The day our Lord conquered death and was risen.  He promised us that because He lives we can live also. We can live eternally in the presence of God after our life on this earth is over.

How? It is simple really. He asks us to confess that we are sinners (meaning that we, at times live in a manner that is unpleasing to God and goes against His will). That we believe what Jesus did for us on the cross, that He rose from the dead, and that He is indeed the Son of God. 

By doing this and acknowledging that He is our Lord and Savior, we can begin a new life in Christ.

On this Easter Sunday, I encourage you to seek God, and as He promises, you will find Him. **

I pray many blessings to you and yours today and every day!

 

*Luke 22:41-43  ⁴¹ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

**Jeremiah 29:13¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.