The classic question for today...
Illustration
The classic question for today is this: "What is good about Good Friday?"
From the world's perspective, the answer is, "Not much!" Jesus of Nazareth was murdered on this day some two thousand years ago. Prejudice, fear, and ignorance killed him. He died a criminal's death -- crucifixion. His friends betrayed him, deserted him, and his body was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb. In the eyes of the world, all was lost. The dismal day is aptly portrayed in the following lines of familiar carol:
Myrrh is mine: its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom:
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
From God's perspective the answer is, "Everything!" Jesus' death fulfilled the Holy Scriptures, saved the lost from sin and death, and restored us as children of God. His death gave us new life plus eternal life. We are healed, forgiven, and reconciled to God and to each other through Jesus' shed blood on Calvary. Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of humanity: he didn't have to die -- he chose to die for us. Jesus gave his life so we might have a life with God. The tomb is empty now. Jesus also gave us the gift of a resurrection faith.
What's good about Good Friday? The final verse of "We Three Kings" says it all:
Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.
From the world's perspective, the answer is, "Not much!" Jesus of Nazareth was murdered on this day some two thousand years ago. Prejudice, fear, and ignorance killed him. He died a criminal's death -- crucifixion. His friends betrayed him, deserted him, and his body was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb. In the eyes of the world, all was lost. The dismal day is aptly portrayed in the following lines of familiar carol:
Myrrh is mine: its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom:
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
From God's perspective the answer is, "Everything!" Jesus' death fulfilled the Holy Scriptures, saved the lost from sin and death, and restored us as children of God. His death gave us new life plus eternal life. We are healed, forgiven, and reconciled to God and to each other through Jesus' shed blood on Calvary. Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of humanity: he didn't have to die -- he chose to die for us. Jesus gave his life so we might have a life with God. The tomb is empty now. Jesus also gave us the gift of a resurrection faith.
What's good about Good Friday? The final verse of "We Three Kings" says it all:
Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Sounds through the earth and skies.
