Good Friday

Good Friday, the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, is the day that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. His death was a sacrifice so that we could receive the gift of eternal life in Heaven. You can read all about the crucifixion in the Gospels, more specifically, Matthew 27 or John 19. 

After being beaten and tortured, Jesus cried out saying, “It is finished.” And he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. At that time people didn’t think too deeply into the phrase “It is finished.” 

I did some research and the Greek word meaning “it is finished” is tetelestai. After a servant would complete a difficult task he would say to his master, tetelestai. Basically meaning, I have done everything I can do, to the best of my abilities, and it is finished. When a merchant made a sale and the money was handed over at the market he would say tetelestai--the deal is finished, completed. The price has been paid in full.

When a sculptor had finished a piece of work, he would stand back looking at it, and say tetelestai-- there is nothing else to be done. It is finished.

When Jesus spoke those final words, he wasn’t just saying “this is the end of me” as if there was nothing else to do but give in to the enemy. Those words do not tell us that Jesus was dead now and that’s all there is to it. He is finished and so is everything that he put up with during his earthly life. 

Reconciliation is finished. Reconciliation is defined as the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement. A gap has come between God and all humanity caused by sin and evil. Our sins, our disobedience, the hurt we have caused God and others have destroyed our relationship with God. Think of a time when you have done something that has hurt a friend and because of that your friendship with that person has been damaged, a gap has come between you, and you felt awkward when you see them in person. All of that won’t change until you put aside your differences and your friendship is restored.

Sin has a devastating effect on our relationship with God. Sin separates us from Him and if we want to have any hope of going to heaven, then someone had to deal with our sin. So God sent his Son into the world for that very purpose. Jesus died on the cross to get rid of the power of sin to condemn us. The task for which God’s Son came to earth has been completed. He has won forgiveness for all people. It is finished. 

Because of love, people do extraordinary things for others. They give us a small look at the kind of love that God has for us. God the Father sent his dearly loved Son into a dangerous world. He allowed his Son to be treated cruelly. He stood by and watched his innocent Son be nailed to a cross and to hang there in agony. He could have rescued him and cursed those who were treating him so wrongly. But instead He allowed his Son to carry the sin of all humanity. 

1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Today, think of ways you can love others-- just as Christ loves us-- and thank God for sending his perfect Son to die for our transgressions.