Approaching GOOD FRIDAY

Can we even imagine the agony that our Lord endured on his journey to the cross?

The crowning of Jesus as King of the Jews~A wood cut

Carved by me in the 1980's

This Son of God was tortured and crucified while not having committed any crime, they could find nothing to charge him with and yet the people shouted "Crucify Him!"   What would you have done if you had been there?  

For Christians, Good Friday is a crucial day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be the most momentous weekend in the history of the world. Ever since Jesus died and was raised, Christians have proclaimed the cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the decisive turning point for all creation. Paul considered it to be “of first importance” that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3).

On Good Friday we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1 John 1:10). It is followed by Easter, the glorious celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, heralding his victory over sin and death and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith (Romans 6:5).

Ultimately Jesus gave up his life for our sins!  In the Old Testament under Jewish Law,  a sacrifice of an animal was offered for sin.  Jesus was the one and only perfect sacrifice for our sins so that we may live in eternity with the Lord and His only begotten Son.  Jesus said no one could come to the Father but through Him. 

Have you made a commitment to God?  Have you invited Jesus into your heart, do you know how to?  When you pray inviting Jesus into your heart, and accept Him, that is when you are born again, meaning you start a new life in Christ.  

I became born again in the 1980's while watching a TV Evangelist by praying that prayer.  If anyone had ever told me I would be doing that, I would have said "no way!"  But God was working in my life and in my family's life all at once.  God can use anyone or anything as His instrument.  I actually jumped for joy at the moment!  And I could not wait to tell everyone and any one!

I had previously been a Catholic and only knew an intercessional relationship to a punishing God who was unapproachable.  If you add anything to Jesus' dying on the Cross so we could be saved by Grace,  you deny His sacrifice.  You CAN have a personal relationship with God and Jesus, praying directly to them.  God has blessed me so much in these last 30 years after inviting Jesus into my heart!  

Bow your head where you are right now and invite the Savior into your heart and accept God's gift of Salvation.  You do not have to start clouting people with a 2 x 4" to tell them about the Lord, just try to set a good example and God will give you the words to say when you have opportunity to share and invite.  Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound!  ♫ ♫  I think this is one of the most popular Hymns ever written.

Thank you for coming.  If you have questions, please ask and I will answer or get the answer for you if I do not know.

This Friday, think of the agony Christ endured on the Cross because God so loved the world that he gave us the gift of His Son.

My Christian heart to yours...