Today is Friday, April 18, 2014. For some two billion Christians around the globe, this day is unique on the annual calendar. Known as “Good Friday”, it is part of a greater observance referred to as “Holy Week”, which commemorates the last week of Jesus Christ’s earthly life.
On this day, some two millennia ago, Jesus Christ was crucified on a Roman cross. Thus, for many believers, this day is a time of sorrow. For most, it is also a time of reflection, as we ponder afresh and anew the significance of the vicarious sacrifice of the Son of God. For, as the Apostle Peter says in his first New Testament letter (3:18a), “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
And yet, the truly amazing thing is that He did not have to do this. He alone was righteous. He alone was innocent. He alone was without fault or blame. And yet, as Peter affirms here, and as the Apostle Paul also states in his own second New Testament letter to the Corinthians (5:21), “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us…”
Why would Jesus Christ willingly go to the cross when He did not deserve it? Why did He lay down His life for all mankind? Peter answers this question as he continues his thought in the latter portion of the above verse, “He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”
Paul, likewise, adds the reason for Jesus’ death on the cross, continuing his own thought with these words: “so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Because of this, the sorrow that Christians experience on this day is tempered with the knowledge of what is to come. As the Biblical story makes plain, the tragic proceedings of Friday were followed by the glorious events of Sunday.
“Three Days Later”, as one popular song title proclaims, Easter Sunday unfolded. On that blessed day, Jesus Christ miraculously rose up from the grave. And in so doing, He imbued the events of Friday with meaning beyond measure!
Thus it is, that on this day, Christians everywhere are somewhat sorrowful. But that sorrow is only temporary at best. And this is because we know a secret… It may be Friday; but Sunday is coming!
One of the most gifted communicators of the modern era was a man named S. M. Lockridge, who lived from 1913-2000, and served as the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, a prominent African-American congregation in San Diego, California, from 1953 to 1993. Few people have encapsulated the hearts of Christians as effectively as did Dr. Lockridge in his famous message on the events of Good Friday.
For a genuine blessing, please click on the following link. Here, you will be reminded of why what happened on Good Friday, while indeed sorrowful to remember, is not the end of the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn94B3GHcjY.
NOTE: Dr. Lockridge’s oratorical skills are also evident in his famous “That’s My King” message. It, too, can be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE.
Many of Dr. Lockridge’s other messages are posted there as well. See also: http://www.rpmministries.org/2009/12/thats-my-king-do-you-know-him/.
On this day, some two millennia ago, Jesus Christ was crucified on a Roman cross. Thus, for many believers, this day is a time of sorrow. For most, it is also a time of reflection, as we ponder afresh and anew the significance of the vicarious sacrifice of the Son of God. For, as the Apostle Peter says in his first New Testament letter (3:18a), “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
And yet, the truly amazing thing is that He did not have to do this. He alone was righteous. He alone was innocent. He alone was without fault or blame. And yet, as Peter affirms here, and as the Apostle Paul also states in his own second New Testament letter to the Corinthians (5:21), “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us…”
Why would Jesus Christ willingly go to the cross when He did not deserve it? Why did He lay down His life for all mankind? Peter answers this question as he continues his thought in the latter portion of the above verse, “He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”
Paul, likewise, adds the reason for Jesus’ death on the cross, continuing his own thought with these words: “so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Because of this, the sorrow that Christians experience on this day is tempered with the knowledge of what is to come. As the Biblical story makes plain, the tragic proceedings of Friday were followed by the glorious events of Sunday.
“Three Days Later”, as one popular song title proclaims, Easter Sunday unfolded. On that blessed day, Jesus Christ miraculously rose up from the grave. And in so doing, He imbued the events of Friday with meaning beyond measure!
Thus it is, that on this day, Christians everywhere are somewhat sorrowful. But that sorrow is only temporary at best. And this is because we know a secret… It may be Friday; but Sunday is coming!
One of the most gifted communicators of the modern era was a man named S. M. Lockridge, who lived from 1913-2000, and served as the Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, a prominent African-American congregation in San Diego, California, from 1953 to 1993. Few people have encapsulated the hearts of Christians as effectively as did Dr. Lockridge in his famous message on the events of Good Friday.
For a genuine blessing, please click on the following link. Here, you will be reminded of why what happened on Good Friday, while indeed sorrowful to remember, is not the end of the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn94B3GHcjY.
NOTE: Dr. Lockridge’s oratorical skills are also evident in his famous “That’s My King” message. It, too, can be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqTFNfeDnE.
Many of Dr. Lockridge’s other messages are posted there as well. See also: http://www.rpmministries.org/2009/12/thats-my-king-do-you-know-him/.