Is today a day of opposites, so to speak? Good Friday is the day Christ's death is remembered. From 12 noon through 3pm, Jesus hung on the cross...the Crucifixion being the reason Jesus was born...to die for the sin of the world.
This taken from today's Days of Praise devotion from the Institute of Creation Research::
Why It Was a 'Good' Friday
April 10, 2009
"And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council." (Luke 22:66)
The origin of "Good Friday" ceremonies are somewhat muddled in history. ... Beyond that, there is a good bit of controversy about the title itself. ... why "Good" Friday? Why not "Sad" Friday, or "Awful" Friday? ...the truth may well lie in the sovereignty of God Himself.
On that day in history, the sins of the world were paid for! This was the day that "it pleased the Lord to . . . make his soul an offering for sin" (Isaiah 53:10). That day, "the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6).
Yes, there was great sorrow and travail that day. During the awful physical darkness from noon to 3:00 p.m. (Matthew 27:45), Jesus had cried out in utter anguish: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). The earth itself shook and rumbled as the creation was torn asunder in reaction to the horrific judgment of the Creator for sin (Matthew 27:51).
But then came the victory cry, "It is finished" (John 19:30), and, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46). His suffering ended, the payment completed, eternal propitiation accomplished, Jesus laid down His human life to await the great resurrection that God might give "assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). HMM III
So...is today a day of opposites? Perhaps not in God's eyes. May we see today not only as the day Jesus died for us, but may we come to see it as primary testimony of how God's ways are not ours
The following is based on a post written almost 2 years ago:
"It is Finished."
I can't get past this scripture. I just can't! What does it mean for you?
Colossians 1:12-20 (KJV; emphasis mine)
12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
So....."It is finished"... Jesus' last words on the Cross...before He died. He accomplished all that He came to do before taking His last breath.
In John 17:4, in the Garden, Jesus said "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." The Greek for "finished" in this verse is teleioo and means consecrate, fulfill, (make) perfect. It is here in the Garden where Jesus declared that He had consecrated the work God gave Him to do...he declared it sacred and further, made it inviolable. And then He was put on trial and went to the Cross, as a lamb led to slaughter.
In John 19:30, on the Cross, Jesus received the vinegar and "...he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." The Greek for "finished" in this verse is teleo and means accomplish, make an end, expire, pay, perform, complete, execute, conclude, discharge (a debt).
It is finished.
What is finished? Everything (Colossians 1:20). He reconciled ALL THINGS unto Himself. Period.
It is finished.
It was finished? It will be finished? No....It IS finished...past, present and future. It was "IS" before Creation...it was "IS" when man fell...it was "IS" when originally penned..."IS" yesterday...and it will be "IS" when we read it tomorrow, a 100 years from now...and for all eternity...HALLELUJAH!!!!
It is finished.
It is ended...expired...completed. His inviolable work cannot be violated. Period.
The Cross...that beautiful, glorious and, more accurately, indescribable Cross...
Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
May the Lord always be honored and glorified as we live our lives unto Him...as we live, move and have our being in the "IS"...
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