Early this morning as I prepared for the day I was overwhelmed with joy and adoration. I cried for several minutes as I reflected on what Jesus has done to save me. I am forever changed and grateful.
Today is good Friday which has been celebrated by millions of people across the world for over 2,000 years. People remember the loving sacrifice Jesus offered in taking on God’s righteous wrath for the sin of every person. That includes you and me. He suffered a horrendous death so anyone who trusts and obeys him can have true life now and forever (2 Corinthians 5:21). But how could the crucifixion of an innocent man be called good? Taken out of context it would be evil, not good. However, the sacrifice Jesus made on Good Friday was phase one of a glorious three-part plan to save the world. In phase one Jesus laid down his life of his own accord. No one took it from him (John 10:14-18). He paid our ransom with his life so anyone who trusts him as savior can be pardoned. There is no other way to be saved (Acts 4:8-12; John 14:6). The following Sunday, he enacted phase two by miraculously rising from the dead. Because he lives whoever believes in him can live and have victory over sin, Satan, and death (Romans 8:1-17). After appearing to many people on numerous occasions Jesus returned to heaven for a season. In the meantime he gives his Spirit to dwell with believers and help them while he is away (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:1-10). At the right time, phase three will begin when Jesus will return to earth to consummate his kingdom, reward believers, judge unbelievers, cast Satan and death into the lake of fire, establish righteousness, and introduce a new heaven and earth (Revelation 19:11-21, 20:1-15, 21:1-8).
God is always at work saving, just like he was on Good Friday. The wickedness of this fallen world, the suffering you experience from the sin of others, and the terminal woe you heap upon yourself from your own sin can all be redeemed. God brings good out of bad. That’s the message of Easter. He promises that he will bring about good in every single situation for all who love him and respond to his call to join his family (Romans 8:28). God wants you to be with him, to be like him, and to do what he does. He knows that is what is best for you, therefore, he has given his best, in the life of Jesus, to make that possible.
How will you respond to this wonderful truth? Will you humbly fall on your knees in confession before Jesus? He loves you and will graciously forgive you (1 John 1:5-10; Luke 15: 1-31). Or will you harden your heart and reject Jesus in favor of living your life on your own terms? Sometime today, please take a few minutes and listen to this beautiful resurrection rendition of Leonard Cohen’s, “Hallelujah.” I pray that it becomes the song of your heart. This Easter if you surrender your life to Jesus he will raise you up into a new life more magnificent than what you could ever ask or imagine. Hallelujah.