It IS a Good Friday!

 

It’s Good Friday. So many of my Christian brothers and sisters spend this day in mourning for the death of Jesus. I did the same, for years. I felt compelled to do so…to remind myself of all the suffering he went through—the torture and the pain…the heartbreak—on my behalf. It saddened and depressed me more than I could ever say. I was wracked with guilt and shame and… embarrassment. I was embarrassed that Jesus went through all he had for me. For ME! Oh the sting of that knowledge in my heart of hearts. For me…a sinner so filthy and unworthy…he suffered so much. It was a burden of guilt I could hardly bear.

Each year, as Good Friday rolled around, I became more and more depressed and more and more sullen. I’m sure I was a joy to be around. Marinating in my shame, even on Easter—the celebration of his resurrection—I could be a sour unpleasant bit of company. I began to dislike the whole idea of Easter.

Then, everything changed.

A friendly cashier at the local supermarket, one with a resounding message of joy, changed it all for me. She reminded me of just how great God is! She made me realize that YES, Jesus suffered. It was awful and it was unbearable and, YES it was horrible but that facet of the story—as important as it is—is not the end of the story!

We shouldn’t forget what Jesus was willing to endure for us. We shouldn’t forget that horrible day. But, we shouldn’t dwell on it either! 

Jesus rose from the dead. 

HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD! 

That’s the part on which we should dwell! That’s the part that matters most. Our God is so great, he’s so incredibly beyond compare that he did something no other being on earth or in heaven could ever duplicate or recreate…he brought his Son, Jesus our Lord and Savior back from death and into the light again.

JESUS LIVES because our God is so great!

I no longer mourn the death of Jesus. Instead, I celebrate the resurrection! I won’t forget what Jesus went through for me. But, I won’t make it the center of my focus ever again. That is so unworthy of his sacrifice. He died that we might live and live abundantly. He suffered that we might gain heaven. There’s nothing but joy in that for me!

Every time I think of THIS part of the Easter story all I can think of is...

How Great Though Art!