Today is the day the followers of Jesus call “Good Friday.” It is a good day for those of us who know that on Friday Jesus endured the painful, horrendously agonizing cross for us, to suffer in our place, to die for our sins. It’s a good day because we know that on Sunday He got up out of the grave victorious over sin and death, never to suffer or die again. What a good day, no, what a great day!
I’ve often thought about the first followers of Jesus and how they must have viewed Friday. It had to have been the most horrible day in their life. They had hung on His every word, but on Friday He was hanging on a cross. They had left everything to devote their lives to following Him, but on Friday they believed that they had lost it all at the foot of a cross. They had followed, but on Friday they all fled except for John. Peter had once confessed His faith in Jesus, but on Friday he conveniently forgot that he ever knew Jesus. What a horrible day it must have been!
If we were those early followers of Jesus and had the information that we have today–that Sundays coming–I bet we would have all been there at the entrance to the tomb waiting for the Savior’s return from the dead. Well, we can’t go back in time, but you and I can sure look forward to Sunday and “be there.” We can join the celebration this Sunday! We can celebrate our Savior’s victory over death! We can celebrate our Savior’s sacrifice on our behalf! We can join with other brothers and sisters in lifting our voices and our hearts in praise to Almighty God for His raising our Savior from the grave and giving us the assurance that, if Jesus lives, we who will trust in Him, will live also. I pray that this Sunday you will make your way to the celebration.