Today, Good Friday

"Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 53:4-6

So often, in our zeal in planning and carrying out our Easter plans, we sometimes allow this day, Good Friday, to pass without pausing to contemplate and reflect the significance of what Christ did on this day 2000 years ago. We often focus on Resurrection Day, and we should, but with little heed to the days leading up to this miraculous, saving event.

"Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows..

Today, Good Friday, the day that our Lord was convicted, though no one could find anything to convict him of. He was the perfect, sinless Son of God. He, God's Own Son, stood in our place, on trial. Not once did He speak up to defend His innocence.

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.

Today, Good Friday, the day the Roman soldiers beat and mocked Him, placing a crown of thorns on His head. He suffered the punishment that should have been ours.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;

Today, Good Friday, the day Christ was forced to carry His cross, the tool of His execution, the burden of our sins. The weight of which caused Him to stumble, requiring the assistance of a man named Simon.

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Today, Good Friday, the day they nailed this innocent man, the Son of God, to a tree. Each strike of the hammer, forcing the nails deeper and deeper through his flesh, into the wood. Excruciating pain searing through Him with each strike. Each strike one step closer to victory over the enemy. Each strike heralding in a new covenant, giving mankind hope and eternal healing in the broken relationship with the Father.

All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;

Today, Good Friday, the day they placed Him on a cross between two men, men who were called 'thieves,' deserving of the punishment they received. So there hung our perfect, sinless Savior, flanked on either side by criminals. One repented the other didn't - representing the ultimate choice that each and every person must make when face to face with the power of the cross.

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

Today, Good Friday, the day that Jesus was surrounded by sinners as he hung there, dying. Those who loved and followed him watched in horror as He hung there, while those who hated Him mocked Him. How heartbreaking for His mother, Mary, to see Him upon that cross. How horrible it was for His followers to witness His sacrifice for the world, yet the world didn't know Him.

And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

Today, Good Friday, the day that Jesus died for our sins. The perfect, unblemished Son of God laying down His life so that we may have life. He completed the task the Father had given and was obedient to the end. His sacrifice is our salvation. Blessed is the Name of the LORD!

Today, Good Friday doesn't sound so good, unless you understand that...Sunday's coming! Hallelujah!

In His Love, Cathy