Good Friday!

Matthew 27:45-54 (New Living Translation)

45. At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
47. Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. 49. But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him."

50. Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52. and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

54. The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Why is Good Friday referred to as “good”? What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good (see Matthew chapters 26-27). However, the results of Christ’s death are very good! Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Yes, it is "good" for us, it was the only hope we would have! Do you realize if He hadn't went to the Cross and was resurrected on the third day for us where we would be today? There certainly wouldn't be any reason to celebrate Easter, we might as well just color our eggs and have a big day hunting them. There wouldn't be any reason to go to church, and if we did then we would be taking animals to sacrifice and living under the heavy burden of the law. I sometimes think we don't realize just what Jesus did for us! Oh it breaks my heart what He went through for us! All the torture and the pain, the agony that led up to His death is overwhelming to me. You talk about feeling unworthy, oh my! remember that old song that says "such a worm as I"? Well that is me for sure. But God in His mercy saw more and farther than we can imagine and this is the way it had to happen. So as we remember this Good Friday, just take the time to read the scriptures above and then fall on your face and thank God for this greatest sacrifice ever made or ever would be made, just for you and me! Praises to the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world!