The Darkness Of Friday

Luke 23:26–31 NIV

As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “ ‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Luke 23:32–43 NIV

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23:44–49 NIV

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Today we celebrate Good Friday, Churches around the world are holding services to celebrate this day.

But I keep getting stuck on this word “Good Friday” For us it is Good, because without it we cannot have Easter,

Without it we don’t have a relationship with God

Without it we don’t have salvation

But in the moment it was not so good for the followers of Christ.

I can only imagine how the disciples felt in these moments

As Jesus went through the courts we saw Peter deny Christ 3 times.

We also saw Peter going to his old self in the aftermath of everything

Have you ever felt that way

Something did not go your way

Something horrible happen

like a death in the family

a betrayal

lost a job

Felt like God didn’t answer a prayer

and we just want to give up

Moving to California and the depression that went with it.

When we are in the midst of our situation we are in the darkness and can’t see past it. Much like Peter

John 21:3 NIV

“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

I want you to take a moment, Take a look within, is there something that you are struggling with?

Something that might be making you want to return to the way you were before Christ?

Maybe you are struggling to even get know Christ, and are going through a

a loss

problems with work

anxiety

depression

Being a Christian does not exempt us from these issues,

if you are going through this does not mean you are a bad Christian, it means you still are human

Peter was in the Darkness, he could not see past the situation, I believe it is because Peter denied Christ that made it so much worse adding to what he say.

But Christ had another plan

John 21:15–19 NIV

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Christ came meet Peter where he was

Christ answered every denial

and we have this too

because in the darkness

Jesus being taken/darkness

Jesus going before the courts/darkness

Jesus being beaten/ darkness

Jesus being choosen to die from those He created/darkness

The nails being driven in

the crown being pressed on

the cross being lowered

and the life being taken

God LOVED us so much that HE came to this Earth went through the worse of darknesses so that we can

Hope

salvation

a relationship

redemption

AND LOVE

See what ever you are going through or will go through we have everything that is on this list because of Jesus

I am not saying it will be easy, I know it is not But we are not alone, and Christ wants to be there and Help you through it, I know this because of the cross.

Communion

Luke 22:19–20 NIV

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.