What a blessed time of year! We get to celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. We get to rejoice that our Savior is not still in the tomb. He IS risen indeed! He is alive forevermore. I am so thankful for the free gift of salvation that was given to whosoever will.
If we turn the clock back a couple thousand years or so we would not be rejoicing in this moment. This would be a time of great sorrow and mourning over the death of Jesus, only 33 1/2 years old. His mother would have witnessed such horror and grief like we cannot even imagine. It says in Matthew 27:55-56 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. The Bible tells us of some of the emotion that was felt in the book of Luke. Luke 23:27 And there followed Him a great company (multitude) of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented Him. I know I cannot read the story of the crucifixion without crying... a LOT! I wasn't even there. Can you imagine the distress and feelings of helplessness as they watched the Son of God be nailed to a cross through His hands and His feet and wearing a crown of thorns on His head? He had been beaten and whipped, slapped and spat on. What suffering and pain!
Why is today called Good Friday? What's good about it? I have heard those questions so much. The good is that Jesus obeyed the Father all the way to death on the cross. Philippians 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. The good is that Jesus did not use the cross as a display of His power by jumping down and striking everyone dead that stood and mocked Him. The good is that He said yes to this horrific ordeal so you and I could go free. The good is that everything the enemy has stolen, killed, and destroyed was redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ. He came to give us abundant life through His resurrection! John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Jesus never sinned but He became sin for us to pay the ransom for our sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. What a beautiful gift to us.
Why would God do that? Why would Jesus have to die for our sins? Why not let us suffer? There is only one answer. LOVE. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God loved His creation so much that He gave us His Son Jesus. Who did He give Jesus to? Whosoever believes in Him. Why? So that they would not be eternally separated from God but would live with Him forever and never die.
Who is Jesus to you? Is He a good man? Maybe He is your Savior but He is not the Lord of your life. You wanted to be spared hell but you want to live life the way that pleases you. Friends, it does not work like that. When Jesus saves us, something happens on the inside of us and we want to serve Him. We have a desire to live like Him. He puts a desire inside our hearts to want to please Him. Our appetite for the things of this world diminishes and He continues to work in our hearts and lives until He returns. Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. If you haven't surrendered your life to Him, now is the time!
Dear Jesus,
I thank You for the sacrifice You made for me. I thank You for the pardon You paid with the shedding of Your blood on Mount Calvary. I am so grateful that You have redeemed me. Lord I am praying today for every person who is reading this blog today and any day in the future. Please help them Lord to know you more clearly. Open their spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear what Your Holy Spirit wants to reveal to them. Cultivate the fertile soil of our hearts Lord to receive this message with Your love. God You have made a way for all of us to be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. If the person reading this blog post is saved, God encourage them and strengthen them for their journey. Equip them to be strong ambassadors for You Jesus and share the Good News with everyone they meet! If they are lost and need a Savior, speak to them, draw them with Your sweet Spirit Jesus and let them come to You with faith believing. I rejoice with all of heaven as they make a confession of faith in You Jesus. What a blessed Homecoming we shall have. I love You Jesus and it is in Your precious Holy name, the name that is above every other name, that I pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
I thank You for the sacrifice You made for me. I thank You for the pardon You paid with the shedding of Your blood on Mount Calvary. I am so grateful that You have redeemed me. Lord I am praying today for every person who is reading this blog today and any day in the future. Please help them Lord to know you more clearly. Open their spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear what Your Holy Spirit wants to reveal to them. Cultivate the fertile soil of our hearts Lord to receive this message with Your love. God You have made a way for all of us to be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. If the person reading this blog post is saved, God encourage them and strengthen them for their journey. Equip them to be strong ambassadors for You Jesus and share the Good News with everyone they meet! If they are lost and need a Savior, speak to them, draw them with Your sweet Spirit Jesus and let them come to You with faith believing. I rejoice with all of heaven as they make a confession of faith in You Jesus. What a blessed Homecoming we shall have. I love You Jesus and it is in Your precious Holy name, the name that is above every other name, that I pray. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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