Weather Report From Heaven: Sunny and bright, with an abundance of light and lots of singing and rejoicing.
Scripture- “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, Tetelestai, which means “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” -John 19:30
Insight: In day 25 of learning to apply biblical principles to our daily life as we march towards Easter, what we are referring to as Practical Christianity, let’s consider what really took place on Good Friday over 2,000 years ago, because while it was indeed the best news ever for us broken sinners, it was a very bad day for Jesus. Simply put, the Cross represents the greatest act of completion in human history. There is not even a close second place. Nothing can compare to Jesus fulfilling the payment due for our sins by taking them upon His body as He hung on a tree at Calvary. As someone who had never had a religious upbringing, I had heard of the Cross before but I had no idea of what it really represented or meant. I knew that Christ had been crucified, but other than the symbol that many people wear on a necklace, I hadn’t a clue of what that meant for me or the world. But after I became a Christian at age 37, I have continued to learn more and more about the life changing significance of the event that took place over 2,000 years ago outside the city gates of Jerusalem. The Cross changes everything! From a Spiritual standpoint, it was the greatest act of completion in human history. It fulfilled the purpose for which Christ came to earth (John 17:4) which was to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and to provide the atonement for sins for all who would believe in Him. (Romans 3:23-25) Finally, the Cross represents the act necessary for a loving God to reconcile sinful humanity back to Himself as described in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
Because Christ cried out “Tetelestai! It is finished,” I was given a new beginning, new life, and it is eternal and nothing can snatch it away from me. Same is true for everyone who receives the name of Jesus and revels in the miraculous exchange that took place on that Cross. 2 Corinthians 5:21 sums it up best “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Hallelujah!
Because Jesus endured the scorn and shame of the Cross (Hebrews 12:2-3), the power of sin and the sting of death was overcome once and for all. Satan was defeated at the Cross of Calvary. Jesus has reclaimed the hope of humanity with His completed work on the Cross. Good Friday was the best news for us as believers ever, but it was a brutal day for Jesus. In humility we should remember the incredible pain and suffering He endured, even being separated from His Father for a few tortuous hours while He bore our sins upon himself so that we could be set free. Good Friday for us indeed, but never forget it was a very bad Friday for Jesus. He is worthy of all of our praise to love us that much.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, words cannot accurately describe the gratitude we feel for what you did on the Cross, enduring it’s shame and scorn so we could be set free from our sin and death. It is at many levels indescribable and incomprehensible for us to fully grasp on this side of eternity. But we know that God loved us so much He sent you to save us from our sin, and that you endured unimaginable physical pain and spiritual agony as you were separated for a time from your Father’s protection in order to accomplish what had to be done to reconcile us back to Him. We in our feeble way and limited understanding say thank you! Thank you for completing the work you began all the way to the Cross. Because of you, we have a hope that cannot be diminished by living in the sinful world in which we live, for you have overcome it!
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