TODAY’S SIGNATURE VERSE ••• But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8 ESV)
PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• It’s Good Friday! And I’m never sure of the proper greeting for Good Friday. Saying “Happy Good Friday” isn’t right… Saying “Good Friday to you” sounds like an Irish greeting and I can’t think it in my head without an Irish accent. So I’m just going to state the fact… It’s Good Friday.
What’s so good about Good Friday? After all, we’re commemorating the day they executed Jesus! Who came up with the idea to call this day good?!? The results were good, yes… But the event itself—horrific is a better term. No one was “celebrating” on this day 2000-some years ago.
Easter Sunday is the day of celebration! And while I’ll resist the temptation to go down another rabbit hole about the name of the holiday, THAT is the day of celebration.
So what is the significance of commemorating Good Friday? The Bible doesn’t tell us to remember Christ’s death on a specific date, but to remember it through communion. In 1 Corinthians 11:23b-26, it says, “…the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
The bottom line is, this day is set apart to reflect on what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross… but that’s something I hope we’re remembering every day. Romans 5:8 says, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That truth is an incredible, humbling, magnificent statement of fact and His ultimate act of love was demonstrated when Jesus allowed Himself to be beaten, humiliated, mocked, and nailed to a tree. That’s a truth that should bring us to our knees in gratitude every day! We are forgiven because He died for us! And because He conquered death and walked out of the tomb… we can live with Him forever because He lives!
Today, as you pray, thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Thank Him for loving you so much that He literally thought you were to die for… Thank Him that Good Friday isn’t the end of the story! Ask the Holy Spirit to keep your heart in complete awe of the lengths Jesus went to in order to offer you salvation and eternal hope in Him.
SHARING ••• Please share with others! Visit www.MyGraceFullLife.com to read past blogs. Download a free Bible-In-A-Year Reading Plan when you subscribe! Join an online prayer group at www.facebook.com/groups/onlineandonourkneesprayergroup. ***Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture references are from the ESV translation.
