03.22.2024
Hey Everybody,
One week from today (March 29th) is Good Friday. Good Friday, traditionally, is the day we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus…which doesn’t seem very good, so why do we call that Friday good?
Was it good that Jesus was betrayed by one of His own? Mark 14:18, Jesus said to the disciples as they were sitting at the Passover table, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.” That doesn’t sound good. The disciples didn’t think it sounded good either, they all began to ask Jesus, “Am I the one?”(Mark 14:19). Part of me wonders if they were asking just to hear the reassurances of Jesus, “no, it’s not you.” If that was their motivation, they were disappointed. Jesus didn’t reassure any of them. And while Judas was the “betrayer,” they all became deserters and deniers just a little while later.
Was it good that the disciples couldn’t keep their eyes open when Jesus specifically asked them to “Stay here and keep watch with me”? (Mark 14:33) If your best friend was going through the most difficult moment in your life, wouldn’t you like to think that you would be there for them? That’s essentially what Jesus was asking of his three closest companions, Peter, James and John. Instead of “watching” with him, they caught some zees.
Was it good that Jesus was arrested? Mark 14:43-49 records the moment when Jesus was busted by the authorities. It’s a heart wrenching scene of brutality and betrayal. Jesus is taken into custody, but “Good Friday” is just getting started.
Was it good that Jesus was falsely accused by the very people that he had spent the previous three years teaching and serving? His words were taken out of context. Some of what was said about him were just bold-faced lies! Have you ever been falsely accused of something? How did you respond? I’ve occasionally be rightly accused and I’ve responded defensively. Not Jesus. We’re told that “Jesus was silent and made no reply” (Mark 14:61).
Was it good that the crowds that once cheered for Jesus ultimately turned on Him? In Mark 15 verses 1-15, Pilate offers to release Jesus or a known revolutionary who had committed murder. It would have seemed good for the crowds to choose Jesus so that this whole nightmare could be ended…but alas, it was not meant to be. The crowds chose to release Barabbas and when asked what should be done with Jesus the same crowds that had cheered his arrival in Jerusalem just a few days earlier are now shouting at the top of their lungs “Crucify him!” (Mark 15:13)
Was it good that Jesus was crucified and died? I won’t take the time to explain the horrors of the crucifixion, you can read about it in Mark 15:16-40.
Of course, none of those things were good, but what those things accomplished was more than good, they were a gift of hope to the entire world. It accomplished good!
It is good that God showed His love for the world. You know the verse, John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son!” Good Friday was the greatest gift the world has ever seen…a public display of God’s love for ALL people! Romans 5:8 builds on that theme by telling us that, “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
It is good that a relationship with God is now possible. Sin kept us separated from God, but Jesus removed our sin, allowing us to be in relationship with our Father. We’re told that “Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.” (Romans 5:18b)
It is good that Jesus gives us victory. One of the things we learn from the crucifixion story of Jesus is that even though a lot of evil was done, God used it to accomplish great good. That’s also true in your life. What you might see as a bad thing happening in your life currently, might be the very thing that God turns around for your benefit. In 1 Corinthians 15 says, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 15:57 NIV). The empty tomb shows that Jesus overcame all that was bad and turned it into good. The resurrection reminds us that He can do the same for us.
It is good that death has been defeated. This life can be difficult, but at the end of the day and at the end of time, we will be transformed into bodies that do not die and we will enter eternity with Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 tells us: Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
Next Friday we will celebrate all that is good from that Friday so long ago. Service starts at 7pm. There will be a time of communion, worship, and prayer, specifically praying for healing. If you are seeking healing emotionally, mentally, relationally, spiritually, or physically; we will have some of our pastors and elders on hand available to pray over you. It promises to be a really GOOD evening together. I hope you will make plans to attend.
Can’t wait to worship with you this Sunday as we wrap up our series Pray and have fun at the Great Easter Egg Challenge.
Pastor Jamey
PS Confused by the timeline of the crucifixion and resurrection? I am sometimes too. Here is a very interesting article from our friends at God Questions that explores some of the most commonly held theories around the timing of the crucifixion. You can read about it here: https://www.gotquestions.org/three-days.html