Growing up in a Christian home, we celebrated Easter every year and made the best family memories going to the Easter services, enjoying the Easter meal, and Easter Egg hunt. As I got older, I would always read the crucifixion account every year but never fully understood the significance of “Good Friday.” I enjoyed the day off of school, but what makes today a “Good Friday?”
Isaiah, a profit in the Old Testament prophesied events that would happen nearly seven hundred years later. Isaiah 53:3-7 says this,
3He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
So, he [Jesus] was beaten, despised, rejected, pierced, and we call this day a good Friday? An innocent man died the death of the most dangerous criminal in history, and we will call this day good? As Jesus laid on the cross, he yelled out a single word in Greek, but a phrase in English that will change the course of human history forever… tetelestai or it is finished! Then darkness fell over the face of the earth, and the vail at the temple of holy of holies tore from the top down.
It is finished!
The curse of SIN is finished
Anxiety and depression is finished
Anger is finished
Fear is finished
Lustful thoughts is finished
Any sin anyone has committed past, present, or future God says “It is finished” the debt we owed was placed on Jesus the son of God for one reason.
LOVE!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that anyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” The single most selfless act in human history was put on display so that we could have new life. God died so that we may have life and have it more abundantly, but he didn’t stay dead. “Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; all fear is gone because I know He holds the future; my life is worth living just because He lives.”