On the wall in front of my desk at the office hangs a picture of Jesus on the cross. We all know that it’s not the real picture of Jesus; it’s merely an artist’s rendering of how Jesus looks. To me it serves as a reminder that Jesus has indeed died on the cross for me. Instead of me hanging there on the cross, it was He—an innocent man and an incarnated Son of God—who was hung and crucified.On the wall in front of my desk at the office hangs a picture of Jesus on the cross. We all know that it’s not the real picture of Jesus; it’s merely an artist’s rendering of how Jesus looks. To me it serves as a reminder that Jesus has indeed died on the cross for me. Instead of me hanging there on the cross, it was He—an innocent man and an incarnated Son of God—who was hung and crucified.
Out of three main Christian celebrations—Christmas, Easter, and Good Friday—the quietest of all is Good Friday. The most celebrated is of course Christmas which marks the birth of Christ. Next in line is Easter—the resurrection of Christ. Last in line is Good Friday—the suffering and death of Christ.
I think one of the reasons why Good Friday is the quietest of all is because it is about suffering and death. We are not by nature fond of suffering and death. We greet birth and resurrection because both are about life and victory. Suffering and death are about pain and loss—something that we wish to avoid, not embrace.
Nonetheless we all know that the chief purpose of the coming of the Son of God to the world is to suffer and die. The birth is obviously a must and the resurrection is the natural consequence of His omnipotence, but suffering and death are wholly volitional. Jesus could have refused the pain and suffering, had He wanted it.
Nonetheless He chose to obey and because it’s entirely based on obedience, His birth and resurrection become much more so meaningful. So, whenever we think of Bethlehem (His birth) and Jerusalem (His resurrection), please think of Calvary (His death).
Pastor Paul
Out of three main Christian celebrations—Christmas, Easter, and Good Friday—the quietest of all is Good Friday. The most celebrated is of course Christmas which marks the birth of Christ. Next in line is Easter—the resurrection of Christ. Last in line is Good Friday—the suffering and death of Christ.
I think one of the reasons why Good Friday is the quietest of all is because it is about suffering and death. We are not by nature fond of suffering and death. We greet birth and resurrection because both are about life and victory. Suffering and death are about pain and loss—something that we wish to avoid, not embrace.
Nonetheless we all know that the chief purpose of the coming of the Son of God to the world is to suffer and die. The birth is obviously a must and the resurrection is the natural consequence of His omnipotence, but suffering and death are wholly volitional. Jesus could have refused the pain and suffering, had He wanted it.
Nonetheless He chose to obey and because it’s entirely based on obedience, His birth and resurrection become much more so meaningful. So, whenever we think of Bethlehem (His birth) and Jerusalem (His resurrection), please think of Calvary (His death).
Pastor Paul