THANK YOU LORD FOR GOOD FRIDAY

GOOD FRIDAY - Why is it called 'good'?

As a child growing up I really didn't understand the meaning of Good Friday.
I think as I grew older and in my twenties, I wondered "Why do they call it good?"

Spiritual growth sometimes takes a long time. We bear fruit for the Lord, but if
we are not submitting to God to be 'cultivated' ...we might be like trees bearing little or no fruit. I can not tell you that my life, even now, reflects this gorgeous
spreading fruitful green tree. All I can say is, I love the Lord Jesus Christ and I am truly thankful for all that He has done for me and all of us. Jesus Christ is the reason for 'this' season!
I can go in obedience to church and take communion....and apply every sincere
effort on my part in that remembrance of what the Lord did with His disciples.
I can read my Bible till I'm black and blue- fast for hours on time- go to every activity that the church offers- teach Sunday School...offer myself here and there-
but, the reason any of this is available to me and all of us, who call ourselves Christians, is all because of Christ! All because of His being obedient to His Father's call to save this ole world of ours! Thank you Jesus!

I was reading an old book this morning - one that was in my Dad's library called
'The Day Christ Died' by Jim Bishop. I think it is a wonderful book, and would encourage you to go to your library and check it out.
Sometimes we know what we know with our heads- our beings- but, giving deep
thought to something is a very good thing to do. This morning after reading some of the above mentioned book, I realized so much more of what our Lord went through. One is not only able to understand the physical sufferings of our Lord, but the mental and emotional as well. We get a truer picture of what
Christ's followers went through, and also those that were so opposed to Him. They were truly blinded by the Satan. For instance, imagine Roman guards and Pharisees thinking they could actually refrain by rope and physical beatings
the Son of God. This only took place because God allowed it, and Jesus submitted to it. If it had not been for that cross and that suffering and that final victory- where would we be?


Good Friday is called good, because it is a Holy Day in the life of the church. All over the world people are reenacting what our Lord went through on this day that He laid down His life for us all. If you go on the internet, you too, will find post after post of people marching through the streets of Jerusalem, Greece, the Phillipines, and so many other places in this world, with someone either carrying a statue of our Lord, someone physically bearing a cross and re-tracing those
painful steps He made in our behalf.
Our Lord in Heaven came down here on planet earth, to make a way for us to have eternal life with Him on high, yes, but also never forget - a way was made for us to have victory over our sins. He came to give His life so that we might live! Live ! The Light came to light up this dark world. It can never be put out!

What does Good Friday mean to you? For years in my life, it was only a day that I thought little about. For years in my life, I was in deep distress over it being called Good Friday. Now, in my life, I too experience a deep sadness over what Jesus suffered for me, but at the same time, never ending joy that I have a way to
come in to my Father's presence with my petitions, prayers, and praises.
I, with all my faults and human responses, have a way to enter in to God's Kingdom on High and never be separated from Him. Eternity with Jesus! Just imagine!
Good Friday - amid all the expectation of Easter and engaging with family and friends and enjoying little ones hunt beautifully decorated eggs, what a wonderful time, but, let's remember what 'this day' is about. Someone felt more pain than we can ever imagine. Some one named Jesus took upon every sin that is in this world- and defeated them all for us! Imagine, the purest of pure, taking on every filthy sin - taking every thing the devil and all his demons dished out ! Jesus took the place of us that day on that cross!!! He has redeemed us from the curse! His blood given for one and all! HALLELUJAH!!!!! THANK YOU JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!
THANK YOU!!!!
"LORD ABOVE, THANK YOU - thank you for all you have done for us. You are calling us to witness your love- patience - endurance - gentleness- kindness - meekness - selflessness - YOU have already done all the work! All our works can not buy our way in to your kingdom- The WORK HAS BEEN DONE~! THE VICTORY WON!!!! YOU DESERVE ALL THE CREDIT!
YOUR SUFFERING WAS SO INTENSE, WE CAN NEVER KNOW, AND HOPEFULLY, WE WILL NEVER HAVE TO. WE PRAISE YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE FOR US. FORGIVE US FATHER....FOR TAKING YOUR LIFE SO LIGHTLY.
HELP US TO REFLECT AND PLACE ALL BACK IN TO THE HANDS THAT HAVE CONQUERED EVERY THING FOR US!! IN JESUS'S NAME. AMEN."

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.....the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all...he poured out his life unto death." Isaiah 53