Friday is in my sight right now and I am looking forward to starting the day with a huge cup of Door County Inn Keepers Blend Coffee.
Today, Christians celebrate "Good Friday". We remember the day that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross to pay the price for our sins. For me it has always been a somber day. When I was a young boy and became aware of what "Good Friday" meant, I held it in my mind as a day to reflect on who I was, who I wasn't, and why Jesus had to die for me. The day has been at times for me , a day of shame and guilt.
I think that there are many who hold this day dear in their hearts, but because of our own individual sins, we see it as a mournful day of remembrance, of the "WHY".
But there was one guy who celebrated the end of the day in a big way.
Luke 23:26-43New International Version (NIV)
The Crucifixion of Jesus
26 As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 28 Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then
“‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!”
31 For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[ And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
In the stop of a heart beat, this guilty thief would be in Paradise with Jesus. Our Savior promises the same for us. As much as this criminal was rejoicing in Paradise, we too will rejoice in Heaven. Jesus stole his heart.
John 3:16New International Version (NIV)
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
I have changed my attitude about Good Friday over the years. It is a day of humility and thankfulness. I am humbled by the fact that I am loved enough that Jesus would die for me. I certainly don't deserve it. I am thankful that He did. In a heartbeat I will be gone some day and will never look back. Jesus stole my heart too. Now that is love!
God Bless,
Marty
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