to do on Good Friday

This morning I was making my usual to-do list, a standard practice around this house, and being consumed with thoughts of what we want to get done this weekend, the places we would like to get to and people we would like to see, and what sort of garb we will adorn ourselves with...


Suddenly, it struck me what today is.  On this day, Good Friday, we remember what Jesus Christ did on the cross.  He was humiliated and tortured in unimaginable ways.  For our good.  While we were still weak.  While we were loving our sin nature and running hard from the Lord.  While we were hurling insults and shame at Christ.  Christ redeemed us with His precious blood.  So, although it is ironic to include "reflection on the cross" on a to-do list, apparently I need to be reminded.

 

Matthew 27

 ³³ And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, ³⁴ they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.

 ³⁵ And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting ^[p]lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. ³⁷ And above His head they put up the charge against Him ^[q]which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

 ³⁸ At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. ³⁹ And those passing by were ^[r]hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, ⁴² “He saved others; ^[s]He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. ⁴³ HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE ^[t]DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” ⁴⁴ The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.

 ⁴⁵ Now from the ^[u]sixth hour darkness ^[v]fell upon all the land until the ^[w]ninth hour. ⁴⁶ About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” ⁴⁷ And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” ⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. ⁴⁹ But the rest of them said, “^[x]Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him^[y].” ⁵⁰ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. ⁵¹ And behold, the ^[z]veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 

 

Behold the Lamb that tore the veil.   Praise the Lord for in just a few days time, we will reflect on what happened after the cross.  It did not end there.  Jesus Christ, on the cross and by His resurrection, conquered sin, satan and death.  

Death is dead.  Death is DEAD!  What a beautiful truth to be reminded of today.