Friday 7 April - How Can I Understand What Happened On Good Friday?

Read Mark 15:33-37. Can you really understand the events of Good Friday? I have to say I struggle at times.

I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. More than that, I believe that he is God the Son. So, on Good Friday, God goes and gets himself killed on a cross, suffering the cruel, literally excruciating death of a common criminal. Explain that!

No wonder Paul exclaims:

1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.

It all seems like utter foolishness. Surely the point of God is that he is all-powerful, indestructible? How can we worship and offer our whole lives to a God who allows himself to be hanged to death?

And yet this moment is one of the most intense divine revelation. What we discover about the God who created us is that he chooses to reveal his power through powerlessness. The power of the cross is the power of selfless love. And there is no greater power in the universe.

As Jesus dies, the powerful are shown to be utterly powerless. Those who indulge in handing out injustices are faced with God’s justice. Those who oppress are placed under God’s judgment. Those who pollute God’s world face their day of reckoning.

As we gaze upon Jesus and as his life ebbs away, we see a world transformed by love. Our sin is overcome by his love. Our selfishness is replaced by his selflessness.

What can we do in response? Simply love as Jesus loved. We may not fully understand it all, but the cross must become our lifestyle. We must offer our lives as a living sacrifice to those who have nothing.

Think It Over

Think about the following:

When do you most often doubt God’s love for you?