Post date: Apr 18, 2014 4:15:33 PM
Some years ago, a host asked his guest, “This is Good Friday; why is it good?”
The answer, of course, is well known to those who have been claimed by Christ. This is truly a day that should be celebrated world wide by those who have been claimed by Christ, and they should never listen to those who claim otherwise (that it should not be celebrated). I say the same about Easter, by the way. Let no one ever convince you that it is a wicked, pagan festival; rather, whatever Satan might try to disguise it with by his own wicked designs, it is the day on which the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was confirmed accepted and complete and good and holy by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead in the wee, early morning hours when the stone was cast aside, the spike holding it shattered as if not there at all, and Jesus came forth, alive and well after having had all of His blood drained upon the Mercy Seat of God’s heart, paying the price for all of the sins of all of those claimed by Christ.
There was a contrast brought forth on Good Friday that most people do not even know enough to give lip service to, much less appreciate the importance of.
This is the age of people picking themselves up by their bootstraps. Leaving aside the ludicrosity of that image, that should tell you something about the people of today. They are no different than the people of Jesus’ day. They all thought they could do it themselves. The fact of the matter, though, is that not even one of us is so able when it comes to pleasing God. That doesn’t stop people, of course. The vast majority either go merrily their way thinking that they are pleasing to God, or hating Him because they think He is impossible to please. These last, therefore, go bitterly their way, unsuccessful, frustrated, bitter, angry, and hateful of God.
There is One who is able, though. In fact, He is able to do all things, including the pleasing of God.
Here’s the contrast: even though this One is able to do all things, and is, in fact, Himself God the Son, and therefore very God of very God, He very pointedly did nothing save living out obedience to God the Father, depending upon the other members of the Trinity, and therefore displaying that divinely pleasing trust that exhibits from those claimed by Christ who have indeed been walking with Christ.
Christ has always had the power to do all things, yet did nothing to effect those things that had been given over to the other members of the Trinity, instead displaying the trust that is the very sign of salvation in Jesus Christ.
So, what is the good of Good Friday?
It is on display today!
All praise to Jesus Christ,
Our living Sacrifice,
Who came to earth to die
That helpless lambs could fly
To heaven with their King,
The Maker of all things!
Amen!
Happy Easter, everyone!