On that first Good Friday, Jesus was crucified.
The Son of Man, God Who became flesh and walked among us, Who taught us the best way to live, Who cared and loved and healed all those who were infirm and outcast and hurting, was murdered.
Some of those who a week earlier had welcomed Him with palm branches and glad Hosannas called for Him to die.
He was mocked and His Father scorned. He was tortured with cruel beating and whipped until his flesh was ripped and bleeding.
He was forcibly marched through the streets carrying the instrument of His own execution.
Jesus, totally good, totally innocent of sin, was pierced through with nails and hoisted onto a cross.
All but a few of His friends abandoned and denied Him.
Yet He still had compassion for the repentant thief crucified with Him, concern for the care of His mother, and forgiveness for those who were persecuting Him.
What did Jesus experience on that cross? Did He know the tragedies of the ages, all the horrors and sins of the world from the time of creation to the events foretold in Revelation?
Did He see the bubonic plagues, the endless wars, the genocides, the slaughter of innocents?
Did He know of my sin?
They pierced His side and fluid drained away. Humanity had truly broken the heart of God.
Hell threw everything it could at Jesus that day.
Worst of all, He experienced separation from His Father.
Then Jesus, the Logos, the Word made flesh, gave the word :
"It is finished".
The earth shook cataclysmically. The temple curtain signifying separation between man and God was ripped from top to bottom.
Jesus had defeated death and hell. Satan is forever a vanquished foe. A sacrificial price for sin had been forever paid.
Father God,
I thank You for Jesus. Thank You for His courage and commitment to You on that first Good Friday. Thank You for everything that was accomplished on that day. Thank You that we know that it was not the end, just the beginning of new hope for this fallen world, the best news we could ever receive, the most precious gift.
Thank You that death is not the end for those who are believers in Christ, saved only through the blood of Jesus.
In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
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