THe uLTiMaTe GiFT WaS a GooD GiFT

It's good Friday which means that around the world Christians celebrate the day that Jesus died. And, put so simply, it is a day that could easily be overlooked or under-appreciated.

Even though I have been a Christian since I was a young child, I don't know that I have ever truly mulled over what Jesus went through that day. And if I have, I am new in thinking about GooD FRiDaY today.

Because I understand why He died for me... Because I understand that along with the sacrifice that He made, my sins are covered... Because I understand that He made the ultimate sacrifice... I think that I have often forgot how gruesome and cruel His death truly was. I find myself often thanking the Lord for dying for me, little ole me. But I cannot ever remember imagining myself there watching His death.

What would it have felt like to have been a bystander on that GooD FRiDay years and years ago? Watching people mock Him, placing a crown of thorns on His head and a purple robe around Him -- mocking His claim to be king. What would it have been like to watch people flogging his body and wripping his skin off? Watching Him suffer on a cross with thieves?
Witnessing Him being speared and blood gushing out. What would my reaction have been? Would I have believed?

I cannot imagine the horror that the Marys and John felt. I cannot imagine the defeat and sadness that they must have felt on this night. The darkness. To see their Savior humiliated.

And yet, His last words, after taking a sip of sour wine, were "It is finished." The Lord knew, that he was the "lamb" of God, making the ultimate sacrifice. While he felt the pain of all of the sins of every person, and while He was humiliated and dying, there would be no other sacrifice necessary after His. A devastating day... that means something so GooD for those who believe.

Thanks be to God!