Good Friday

Today is Good Friday.

For anyone unaware of what Good Friday is in the Christian faith, it is the day that represents Jesus dying on the cross. Good Friday falls on the Friday prior to Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday represents the day Jesus’ body was not found inside the tomb, but rather risen and alive.

The original Good Friday definitely didn’t feel good. Jesus, a man that spent 33 years on Earth teaching and healing people, completely sinless and innocent, was tortured beyond recognition and left nailed on a Roman cross to die. There was nothing good about it, right?

The thing about God’s will and ways, they are never like our ways. Our ways seem obvious and reasonable. God’s ways are higher, incomprehensible, and unexpected. If you’ve read the old testament, it can be hard to read at times. Before Jesus, people would have to atone for the sins they committed. That means there were sacrifices they had to make, usually involving animals. There were rules and rituals to do it properly. God’s people failed a lot at following all of them. God loved His people so much that he decided to save the world through one final sacrifice, the one perfect lamb. And that is Jesus. If you’ve ever wondered why Jesus is referred to at times as “the lamb.” It is because he was sacrificed like so many lambs were in the old testament.

It is because of Jesus’ death on the cross that we don’t have to sacrifice animals or earn our ticket to heaven. Jesus said, “I’ll pay for your ticket. Your eternal life can be in heaven. You don’t have to earn it or pay for it.” Jesus requires one thing from us, only one. We must believe in Him.

Are you skeptical? That is normal. Do you think what I just said was crazy or delusional? That is okay.

Jesus still died for you. You were made in His own image. He knows your name, your thoughts, your passions. Ask yourself what is holding you back from having a relationship with Jesus? I encourage you to read the bible. Don’t just read someone’s interpretation of the bible. Don’t just listen to podcasts or people supporting or denying the bible. Don’t just read a verse here and there. Don’t just believe something about Jesus because of what someone told you. Actually, read the words. 

It is okay to wrestle with the idea of Jesus being the savior of the world. It is not okay to live in that limbo without doing your homework. It is just too important.

When I hear people tell me their assumptions of Jesus or the flaws of a church are the reasons why they don’t believe, it breaks my heart for them. If you truly read the bible, learned about Jesus, how he thought, how he talked to people, how he treated others, and the teachings he gave. It would change things for you- those of you who are doubting. People are flawed, even church leaders or social media influencers, and even bloggers. 

Jesus is greater than __________. I left it blank. You could put any word there and the statement will always be true.

Happy Easter, friends! I pray you all celebrate the true meaning of Easter. Bunnies, chicks, and eggs are all fine, but don’t let them distract you from the magnitude of Christ dying on the cross and rising again and what that means for you and I.