How did He do it? How did He watch his son suffer so much? How did He watch Jesus…a tortured, bloodied mess…march slowly toward that hill? How did He watch as the nails were pounded deep into the hands, the feet? How could He stand it? How could He stand to hear the ridicule and the taunts? How could he watch as Jesus took the weight of the sins of all the world, and placed them on His own shoulders? How could He watch as the Son of Man breathed His last?
I almost can’t bear to think about it. The barrier around my heart breaks, and the tears start to pour out. Especially now as a mother I wonder…how could He bear to sacrifice His son?
And yet it is called Good Friday. Good?
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
Good Friday is good because it shows God’s depth of love for us.
Yet that doesn’t entirely make my heart rest easy, for I am the one who needed saving. I am the one for whom the sacrifice was needed. I am the one for whom the blood was poured.
In a few days we will celebrate Easter. I don’t want to forget, though, the lessons of Good Friday amidst all the joy and celebration and feasting.
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. -Luke 9:23
So the last will be first, and the first will be last. – Matthew 20:16
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