Unshackled Moments ~ April 3 ~ Good Friday

Today is Good Friday, and if you think about why it becomes obvious that good is relative. It all depends on your perspective. It seems odd to commemorate an execution with a holiday, especially one with Good in the title. It would be difficult to imagine that Crucifixion Friday was a good day for Jesus. Walking on water was probably pretty cool. I would think that was a good day. But the day He was beaten to a pulp and suspended by nails from a cross just doesn't seem to fit the definition of the word good.

                                                                                              But to Jesus it was. It was for the joy that He knew would come from restored relationships that He chose to endure the cross. Yes, chose. Jesus had the power to stop the pain, to deploy angels to take care of those who wanted to kill Him, but He chose the cross for me, for you. Like a women celebrating the day she endured the pain of childbirth out of the love she has for the one she bore, God and the angels celebrate the cross for the love of those who through that horrible pain would become the children of God. And we can celebrate it as well in gratitude for the great price that He willingly paid in order to redeem us from our former master and to set us free from the law of sin and death. 

Thank You Jesus for the price that You paid, for everything that You endured for me. There is truly no date in history that can so accurately be called Good, for nothing outside of You will remain, and the cross brought us to You.

Jesus on Cross painting by Debra Hurd