From that Cross | This is How We Know Love

Good Friday is tough for me. I wake up with a mournful mother-heart, knowing what this day was in the life of Jesus. He was 33. Younger than my sons. Good Friday stays tough for me. I work my way through the day with dread, building toward the darkest hour.

Biblical accounts from his disciples tell us about this day.

• He hung for nine hours. Ridiculed.
• At noon, the land fell into darkness for three hours.
• At 3pm, he cried out in a loud voice: “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?)
• And He said: “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

How can I seek out humility and wisdom for what this day was for Jesus? And please, stop myself from pre-empting His journey because I know the resurrection ending?

How can I be in that moment, that day, when Jesus died? The sun rose and set.

People watched. Some grieved. Many did not. Some sought to take care of Him. Would I have been among them?

• He became a sacrifice for sin, from that cross. Hebrews 10:10
• He cared for His mother, from that cross. John 9: 26-27
• He forgave a repentant sinner, from that cross. Luke 23: 42-43
• He appealed to His Heavenly Father, from that cross. Matthew 27: 46
• His Father delivered Him, from that cross. John 19:30

Good Friday summons us to connect to our Savior’s deepest sorrow. His loneliest earthly hour. And the sacrifice He made. From that cross, on that day.

John, the Evangelist and disciple of Jesus, widely recognized as author of John, 1 John, 2 John and Revelations, wrote:

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

John knew then, what I struggle to understand now. We are instructed to pick up our cross and follow Him. Live a deeper life, from that cross. In the center of grieving for the death of Jesus is the salvation of every soul.

My capacity to live with the joy of a “resurrected heart” comes out of my gratitude for the Savior who died for me on that day. From that cross. A priceless piece of wood. A carpenter with divine love.

Buoy:  On Good Friday let’s pray for a relentless spirit of gratitude for the day Jesus gave His life for each of us. Deeper gratitude than we have ever known before. The ultimate hero story. The deepest, open water. On Sunday, let’s rejoice in His resurrection, the most personal, priceless gift of redemption and self-worth for each of us.

  18  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18