From Wretched Friday To Resurrection Sunday

Tomorrow is “Good Friday.” I always found the “good” part a bit ironic, considering the fact that we’re basically commemorating the illegal conviction, torture and murder of the only perfect Man to ever walk the earth (Jesus).

According to an article on http://www.christianity.com, “in German…the day is called Karfreitag, or ‘Sorrowful Friday.'” (http://www.christianity.com/god/jesus-christ/what-s-so-good-about-good-friday.html). That seems more appropriate, don’t you think? It’s more a day of sorrows than joy, although I understand why it is also “good.” We had to have the ugly, dark, murderous Friday, so our sins could be forgiven by the blood Jesus shed on Calvary.

“Good” Friday, i.e. “sorrow, grief, torture and murder,” also had to happen so Jesus could rise again, allowing us the privilege of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. For believers in Christ, we all have a glorious resurrection day of our own, although we have to suffer our own sorrows, grief and terrors before we get there.

But as Jesus made it through His darkest hours, so will we Never doubt that.

The fact is, out of all the religions in the world, ours is the only one with a risen Savior. What amazing, life-changing news! But to display the power glory of the resurrection, Jesus had to go through Hell on Earth.

I’m not just referring to His crucifixion; I’m also talking about all the misery, grief and sorrow He lived through before that “good” Friday. During His lifetime His father died, He was mocked incessantly by many, He was basically homeless during His entire ministry (Luke 9:58), He was bitterly betrayed by one of those closest to Him, and possibly worst of all, He witnessed first-hand those who willingly chose to reject His love.

For example, here is an incident in Luke 19:41-44 where Jesus wept over Jerusalem: “But as they (Jesus and the disciples) came closer to Jerusalem and he saw the city ahead, he began to cry. ‘Eternal peace was within your reach and you turned it down,’ he wept, ‘and now it is too late. Your enemies will pile up earth against your walls and encircle you and close in on you, and crush you to the ground, and your children within you; your enemies will not leave one stone upon another—for you have rejected the opportunity God offered you.'”

Yes, Jesus was a Man well-acquainted with sorrow and grief, as the verses below illustrate.

I thought perhaps you needed a reminder that our God is intimately familiar with pain, sorrow, grief and death. Never doubt this fact: you are not alone. You are never alone.

“We despised him and rejected him—a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care. Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed—and we were healed! We—every one of us—have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us!

He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he never said a word. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he stood silent before the ones condemning him. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that he was dying for—that he was suffering their punishment? He was buried like a criminal, but in a rich man’s grave; but he had done no wrong and had never spoken an evil word. (Isaiah 53:3-9).”

Turn to Jesus in your darkest hour, for He had many dark hours Himself, and He cares so deeply for you. He was brutalized and massacred so you can have eternal life with Him.

It may be Friday, but as one of my favorite songs by the Christian artist Carmen says, “Sunday’s on the way.” To lighten the mood a bit, here’s a funny, animated video of the song: