Good Friday 

So they took Jesus,  and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha.  There they crucified him,  (John 19:16-18)
 
We call it “Good Friday,” yet it was literally a dark day. The Gospel of Mark records that darkness fell over the whole land from noon until three o’clock. It was a dark day because an innocent man bearing the sins of the world was executed by being nailed to a cruel Roman cross.  It was a dark day because the Father turned away from His beloved Son who knew no sin; Jesus took that sin upon Himself for you and for me so that we could be made right with God.

Indeed, it was a dark day physically and spiritually, some 2,000 years ago. However, it was also a very bright day. Jesus, the incarnate Son of God gave up His throne in heaven, humbled Himself and became obedient unto death on the cross.  The singular mission of His earthly life was to make a way for men and women, heretofore separated from God because of sin, to come to Him.  Thus, Jesus willingly gave Himself as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice to pay the price for the sins of all mankind, for all time.
 
It was a bright day because Jesus took my place on that Roman cross and died for me.  It overwhelms me to realize that Jesus bled and died just for me.  The writer of Hebrews tells us that without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sin.  It is similarly overwhelming to Know that by professing faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, I am forever free from the penalty and punishment of sin.  Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection have secured a place for me in His heaven and spared me from spiritual death and eternal separation from God.

The Bible tells us that it is God’s desire for all men to be saved and understand the truth.  Without Jesus Christ, we are spiritually dead in our sins and we can do nothing to save ourselves. We must acknowledge our sins, place our faith in Christ and trust in Him alone for our salvation.  The Apostle Paul put it this way, If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
 
If you truly Know the Lord Jesus Christ, you can understand why that day 2,000 years ago was both dark and bright -- dark because the sinless Son of God was crucified; bright because we understand that the cruel cross of Jesus’ execution is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.  Our days are forever bright because Jesus not only died, but He arose from the dead and He lives today!  He goes ahead of us to prepare the way, He walks beside us to guide and strengthen us, and He comes behind us to pick us up when we stumble or fall.

May you truly be blessed today because you have placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and have entrusted your very life to Him.