Why Is It Good Friday?
On Good Friday, we remember Jesus willingly going to the cross for our sins. Today in Isaiah 53, a prophetic passage referring to Jesus says,
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Probably the most poignant aspect of Good Friday for me is that Jesus willingly took upon our sins and transgressions, even though he was without sin. I deserved to die but Jesus stood in my place. Literally as I would be paying the price before the executioner, he stepped in and said, "I will bear your punishment!"
Can you imagine in that moment how much gratitude you would have for that person? If you had the chance you would go to any extreme to show this person how grateful you are for what they have done for you. Then, add in the fact that this is God himself, who stepped in to take your place. The One who created everything and created you, stepped down from His divinity and took the wrath you deserved.
While in three days the suffering of the cross will be replaced by the joy of Easter, today we remember what Jesus endured the agony of the cross,so that we could be saved from our sins and given eternal life, as a free gift of grace motivated by love. There is no other religion that believes its God would suffer and die for those who believe in Him. Only in the story of Christ does God sacrifice Himself for the sake of the world for whoever would believe in faith.
Even secular history recounts Jesus' crucifixion, so it is not a made up story. So since we know Jesus died, the only thing that is debated is whether He rose again. There are many reasons for us to know that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead, and appeared to his disciples before ascending to heaven. But today we remember the price he paid for sins he never committed himself. The innocent Lamb of God was slain to be our once and for all sacrifice. As Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished!"
Jesus how can we ever thank you enough for what you have done for us. May our lives be a living sacrifice in response to your great love and mercy. Help us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by You so we may show God's perfect will in your name, Amen.
The Suffering and Glory of the Servant
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him-
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Probably the most poignant aspect of Good Friday for me is that Jesus willingly took upon our sins and transgressions, even though he was without sin. I deserved to die but Jesus stood in my place. Literally as I would be paying the price before the executioner, he stepped in and said, "I will bear your punishment!"
Can you imagine in that moment how much gratitude you would have for that person? If you had the chance you would go to any extreme to show this person how grateful you are for what they have done for you. Then, add in the fact that this is God himself, who stepped in to take your place. The One who created everything and created you, stepped down from His divinity and took the wrath you deserved.
While in three days the suffering of the cross will be replaced by the joy of Easter, today we remember what Jesus endured the agony of the cross,so that we could be saved from our sins and given eternal life, as a free gift of grace motivated by love. There is no other religion that believes its God would suffer and die for those who believe in Him. Only in the story of Christ does God sacrifice Himself for the sake of the world for whoever would believe in faith.
Even secular history recounts Jesus' crucifixion, so it is not a made up story. So since we know Jesus died, the only thing that is debated is whether He rose again. There are many reasons for us to know that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead, and appeared to his disciples before ascending to heaven. But today we remember the price he paid for sins he never committed himself. The innocent Lamb of God was slain to be our once and for all sacrifice. As Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished!"
Jesus how can we ever thank you enough for what you have done for us. May our lives be a living sacrifice in response to your great love and mercy. Help us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by You so we may show God's perfect will in your name, Amen.
The Suffering and Glory of the Servant
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him-
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
53 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4 Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
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