Everyone was excited, people were greeting friends, parents were telling children to behave, and stay close. Yet, one man walked the city with a burdened heart. He saw not the faces of the crowd, He saw their very souls. He was greeted "Rabbi do this" and "Rabbi heal me". He did not mind, His heart burst with love for each person. Yet, He knew that what He offered that morning was just temporary relief, what He was about to offer would bring eternal salvation.
This man was the rabbi called Jesus. Some called Him Lord, a few even called Him Messiah. While they got the title right, they were confused still. They thought He would be a political messiah and bring them out from under the tyranny of Rome. He certainly could have, but that wasn't His mission. He knew that as bad as some earthly tyrannies are, there is something FAR worse and He was going to save them from the worse.
His time was growing increasingly short. The hours were dwindling down. He knew that He would face what was to come, but He didn't relish the suffering involved. He knew he would be abandoned by all but a few, and even those few wouldn't be able to do anything. His suffering would save them.
He spoke with his disciples, he gave his mom a hug and He went into a garden to pray. He asked for strength, for courage and He prayed for you and me. He did all this with his eyes on each of our souls. After He prayed a trusted and loved follower gave Him up for money. Greed overcame loyalty.
He stood silent in the face of mockery, He bore no ill will for the fickleness of the crowd. The very people that he was saving were the ones that condemned him. He stood and endured the most brutal beating man has ever endured. He then quietly took up the heavy beam and dragged it as far He could. He did all He could, and then He accepted help.
He did not fight as his executioners did their job. He let them. He knew that it was almost finished. Satan was jumping for joy. That man was not just a man, that was GOD that was just flogged, nailed and raised on a cross. The crown of thorns were causing GOD's head to bleed. The parched throat was that of GOD. The tears streaming down for the souls of humanity were that of GOD. Satan had finally won...or so he thought.
The earth shook, the thunder cracked and Satan was having a ball. God was dead! Yet, He wasn't. It was His son who voluntarily separated Himself from the Father and did this. It was precious Jesus, the lamb of God, a partner with God, that was hanging dead on the cross. It was God and it wasn't. Something that we need to know, but not something that we can really comprehend.
It doesn't seem like a "good" Friday at all. It seems like an awful one. Yet, the good comes from the reason. It is good because now we humans are able to be reconciled with God. We can say "Jesus thank you for all that you went through. Thank you, and I accept your gift. I believe and want to be called your own."
It is good because Friday was not the end, Sunday was coming!!!
-JLP-
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