Matthew 28:6–7 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.
Luke 23:44-46 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
Why is “Good Friday” good to you?
Are you committed to truly follow Christ?
Ask God to reveal where you are not fully following Him.
E-devotion by Robert Duvall (Elder)
The demonstration of God’s love is amazing! In Luke 23, we see God’s plan unfolding to allow for the reconciliation of a sinful humanity to a Holy God. There was a curtain in the temple that separated the Holy Place (where only priest could enter) and the Most Holy Place (where only the high priest could enter yearly to atone for people’s sins). As this curtain is torn, we see a beautiful picture of God intervening once and for all to bring the opportunity to rescue us from our depravity. In this moment we see the significance of Immanuel, God with us. In this moment Christ had become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity. In Revelation 21, God promises a day with a new heaven and a new earth where we will be His people and He will be our God forever. Luke 24:45 describes the very moment that made it possible to experience this eternal fellowship with our Creator. There is no question that this was a Good Friday for humanity.
It is what we do with this salvation and reconciled relationship that demonstrates the depth of our love and our appreciation to God for this amazing sacrifice. Do we commit ourselves to seek God’s plan in all of our decisions or just the ones we are willing let go of? God demands that when we follow Him, we are to submit to Him completely. George Mueller, the faithful English evangelist and founder of multiple orphanages, once commented on how he would seek God’s direction. He tried to reach a point where he had no will of his own. He stated that, “God’s plan is there shall be none of self and all of Christ.” When we strive for this as we pray, as we study God’s Word, as we spend time with our family and friends, as we allow God’s desires to become our desires, we will see Him do amazing things in and through our lives. This produces reconciliation with a purpose! This produces a Good Friday and a Good Life that honors our God and brings glory to His name.