Good Friday

I don’t really have plans to make some deep post today. I am out of town at a church youth retreat with my kids. It was a long drive from Virginia to Louisiana. I just happen to have a few extra minutes and wanted to talk about this.

Have you ever been intensely confused about what was going on in your life? Have you ever felt like everything you knew was right was just ripped from you and you’re falling? Have you ever had one rotten day that seemed like it destroyed your life?

That’s what I imagine it felt like for the disciples but multiplied by 1,000. Friday looked like the end.

I could write about how we should trust God. I could write about having faith and an anchor in God. Instead, I’m going to dwell on the fact that even when our faith is gone, God still has a plan and it’s better than we could ever imagine. When we let go, he catches us. He that has the power to die and resurrect loves you enough to die in your place. He redeemed you and set you free.

In the scriptures, the crucifixion feels incomplete. You’re left asking, what comes next? I’m so thankful that God wasn’t finished writing redemption’s story.

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

So the Lord alone did lead him

Deuteronomy 32:11-12

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

Matthew 27:50

Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate,

knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

“What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.

“Crucify him!” they shouted.

“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:9-15

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:32-34

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:39-43

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Luke 23:44-46

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:30