Good Friday

She was sitting one seat away from me.

Her dark eyes and dark hair were contrasted by her creamy smooth complexion.

She wasn’t looking at me, but there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she was talking to me.

She leaned a bit forward with a frown just creasing her brow and asked,

“Why is it called Good Friday if it’s the day Jesus died?”

I was surprised.

I’d only met this girl recently, she’d asked to sit by me while waiting for another practice on the Youth Worship team.

I was sitting, just crocheting and enjoying the music.

So, after a bit of chit chat where I found out what grade she was in, where she lived, and that she was very new to our church, she asked this question.

I smiled and looked right at her.

“That’s a very good question.”

She turned her eyes briefly to mine, questions still creased her face, then went back to watching the adult team practice their songs.

But I knew she was listening.

“I don’t know the history of when or why it began being called Good Friday, but I’ve always been told that it was Jesus rising from the dead that made it good.”

“Remember, Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins, all of them, for everyone, and when He rose again on Sunday He gave us the hope of eternal life with Him in Heaven.”

She nodded, “Oh, yeah, I guess that’s right.”

She was still listening although, not looking at me.

“What Jesus did, how He died, and paid such a terrible price for us is hard, and I’m certain the disciples didn’t see it as good at the time, but when He rose from the grave it changed everything.”

“Jesus’s rising from the grave is what makes His death so good, because through it He saves all who trust in Him and put their lives in His hands.”

Her eyes turned back to mine briefly.

The question and frown had been replaced by a look of ponder and she nodded, a slight smile on her lips.

Our conversation turned to other topics and sometimes we just sat silently, but the moment stayed with me and has been a true treasure.

What an incredible privilege to share the truth of Jesus Christ to another!

It makes me wonder if it’s a tiny glimpse into how the women felt who spoke with the angel.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Matthew 28:5‭-‬8 KJV

This Good Friday, I hope we all have the joy of sharing why this day is so good.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your gift of salvation and the privilege of being the ones to share the truth with others! What an incredible blessing that is! Lord Jesus, thank You for this moment with that precious girl from our church. I humbly request that You continue to open her heart and mind to Your truth and that she accepts You wholeheartedly. Lord, help the Word and the music of this Sunday to bring her a deeper understanding of who You are and why You died. Please, let others come alongside her and be there to love and encourage her. Lord, I would love another opportunity to share Your love with her. Thank You for that moment during worship practice. May the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Your holy name! Amen.

Spring’s reminder

Matthew 24:32-33 NKJV — “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!”

As the trees return from their hibernation, seeds sprout into tiny plants, and bulbs rise from the earth in flower, my heart turns to the greatest story of all time: Jesus’s Resurrection and His promised return.

Matthew 25:31-32 NKJV — “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

Jesus made it clear, He will return and judge the Earth.

For those who have salvation through Jesus Christ, it is a return anticipated with great joy.

Just as Spring is a time of new beginnings, so shall the return of Christ Jesus be for those who are saved by His grace.

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:21‭-‬26 NKJV

May each of our hearts find hope in Jesus’s salvation and joy in His promise.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your salvation! Thank You for the reminder in the leafy shoots of the trees and the tiny plants pushing up through the soil. Lord, thank You that every winter when things seem dead and lifeless, there’s the promise of warmer weather and new life bursting forth. Lord, may these things in nature turn our hearts and minds to Your Word and Your promises. Lord, may we walk with integrity and truth, wise and honorable servants who will be found doing the will of the Master when You return. Thank You that Your Word is truth. Thank You for Your wondrous works. May my life bring glory to Your name, Jesus. Amen.

Truth in a moment of grief

Can you imagine the disappointment?

Martha knew Jesus.

She knew Jesus cared for her family.

No doubt, she’d seen the miracles of healing.

Yet, when she was the most desperate, the most in need of His healing, He was absent, although she and Mary had sent word.

John 11:3 NKJV — Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

Not only did Jesus choose not to go visit Lazarus when he was sick, He didn’t arrive right after his death either.

John 11:17 NKJV — So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.

From Martha’s perspective, Jesus’s absence must have been extremely disappointing.

John 11:20 NKJV — Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house.

Martha had heard Jesus was coming and had gone to face Him with her disappointment.

John 11:21-22 NKJV — Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

Jesus gives her the truth, but like most of us, Martha doesn’t understand what God is doing.

John 11:23 NKJV — Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

John 11:24 NKJV — Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Through this story we get one of the most profound scriptures, spoken by Jesus.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25‭-‬26 NKJV

In the midst of Martha’s lowest point, when she is deeply hurting, confused, disappointed, and clothed in grief, Jesus speaks to her the truth and the hope every single human needs and can put their trust in.

Her response is beautiful.

John 11:27 NKJV — She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Did she understand that Jesus was going to raise her brother from the dead?

No, or she wouldn’t have said:

John 11:39 NKJV — Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”

Her response to Jesus’s words about being the Resurrection was trust.

She didn’t understand what God was doing in her life.

She couldn’t see her brother’s death as anything more than a tragedy.

She did choose to trust Jesus, despite the circumstances.

John 11:43-44 NKJV — Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

Can you imagine the celebration?!

Although there are tragedies, grief, and extreme disappointment Jesus is

“…the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” John 11:25b-26

It doesn’t guarantee our circumstances will fall into place the way we desire.

Choosing trust is to fall in place with Jesus.

Like Martha, we can choose to trust God.

Not knowing the future, but knowing the One who is the future.

Philippians 1:21 KJV — For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I bet Lazarus understood this truth better than anyone else present.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your truth. Thank You that You are the Resurrection and the life! What can possibly be more profound than God as man dieing for our sins and rising again?! Your sacrifice is beyond my comprehension. Your love, mercy, and grace out strip anything I’ve experienced in this world. Lord Jesus, Your Word is amazing. Please, let those who have hurt, grief, loss, disappointment, and deep pain find healing in You. Please open the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and soften the hearts, that they might turn and be healed. Lord, please continue to hone our hearts and minds that we might trust You no matter the circumstances. For You are worthy of all our trust, love, honor, glory, and praise. Amen.