Good Friday and Easter

Recalling the events of this week in Jesus' life and at some level entering in to them can be life-changing.

That is why Good Friday and Easter are inseparable.

Easter without Good Friday would mean we can't be reconciled to God. No sacrifice, no forgiveness.

Good Friday without Easter would mean there is no hope. No ultimate victory over sin, death and the grave.

In recalling the events of the week - just think of what Jesus must have been experiencing today, knowing Thursday would culminate in rejection by his closest friends, unrivaled suffering and then death. And to think how He must have struggled to keep the main purpose in view? Spending time with His Father knowing in a few hours He would feel totally separated and alone? What if those hours in prayer were the only way He could keep focus and endure?

All the while Jesus kept a bigger purpose was in view...

Check out the Message translation of Hebrews 10:11-17

Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave in. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. The Holy Spirit confirms this:

This new plan I'm making with Israel isn't going to be written on paper, isn't going to be chiseled in stone; This time "I'm writing out the plan in them, carving it on the lining of their hearts.

How about that "new plan?!!" God is writing it and carving it on the lining of our hearts!

So as we reflect and worship on Good Friday, we look forward to experiencing His plan and celebrating His victory on Resurrection Sunday!