I’m at an age where I share lots of memories with my children (well, don’t get me wrong, not that old). And in the stories my husband and I share, we tell them about people they never knew, about things we did, etc. And as we tell them our stories they are laughing in astonishment, at times they are gasping in shock and disbelief, but it’s always a good time. I’m sure you do the same with your kids, your friends…it’s a great way to get know each other better, isn’t it?
There is one thing that I share with you today: it is Good Friday. You might say, “yes, I know, it’s spring break!” But it’s better than that. You see, I share with you a story that I heard as I child…my friends in the Bible such as John and Matthew tell me about the day that Jesus was crucified. They tell me the beating, mocking, pain, suffering that Jesus went through for one reason – His love for you and me.
As you and I are told this memory, this truth from the Bible…we are in amazement. Even the prophets foretold what Jesus would go through in Isaiah 53:3 (please read the whole chapter today) – “He is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” And also Isaiah 53:5 – “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Jesus, my Savior, most definitely went all out for you and me. There is no greater love that we will ever know. There is no greater love that will ever be displayed.
And out of His love for you and me, this is the amazing part, we are forgiven. Take a look at Colossians 2:13-14 – “…Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” You see, he took the punishment of our sins…for us! He took the all the debt that we owed in our sin…and paid it!
“At the cross, at the cross I surrender my life, I’m in awe of You, I’m in awe of You. Where Your love ran red and my sin washed white, I owe all to You, I owe all to You.” -Chris Tomlin, “At the Cross (Love Ran Red)”
Oh! It is GOOD Friday!! All sins…and I mean ALL sins, past, present and to come, have all been taken to the cross by Jesus Christ and He has forgiven you and me. Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” I love this! How the Lord says “let’s settle this”…basically, I’m going to take care of this once and for all. And He did. On the cross. Shed His blood for you and me.
I hope you take some time today to remember what our Savior Jesus Christ did for us. Today we remember ALL that He went through. For you. For me. THIS is Good Friday.
(But the story doesn’t end here…Sunday is coming…to be continued)
She Lives Encouraged 