Good Friday

It was the darkest day in history. The world's greatest injustice, through which just wrath was satisfied. A symbol of hope who brought blessings to so many was mocked as a hopeless fool and hung as a cursed man. Few knew what was taking place, and even fewer understood how important the moment was. It was a moment that brought immense grief and fear, for a man who brought joy and love was slain. This is the day we call Good Friday. Not because it felt good. But because it is the greatest example of how God can make good of the worst humanity can do. It is good because blessed are those who hunger and mourn. It is good because while we fast in mourning and broken hearts of repentance and humility. Jesus fights the fight and pays the price we can not. Indeed, He is Good. And though uncomfortable, difficult, and heavy, like the cross. What happened that day was good. It was a good Friday. The best there has ever been and likely ever will be... Unless He comes back on a Friday. Then, that may be debatable.

The night before the dawn

It was not normal, but all too common. A day like many others, rumor and news spread as people tried to make sense of what they heard. Another flicker of hope, or potential destructive fire, was extinguished by the Romans and religious leaders. Now, the disciples of Jesus were in hiding. One of them was found hung by impaling himself. Apparently, the loss of his Rabi was too much to take. His disciples had traded their lives to follow him. He must have felt like there was nothing left for him. Either way, many were grieved, and others were relieved to see things "back to normal." But there was still a bit of tension in the air as everyone waited to see if another shoe would drop. Would Rome or the religious leaders seek to punish more who were known to be the Nazarene's followers? Would some recant their allegiance to him or end their lives as one already did? Would they disperse, blending back in with the rest of society? Would the death of the Nazarene have the opposite effect than the Romans hoped for and spark an insurrection? Perhaps that's why his disciples are in hiding. No one really knows. But, of course, the news and rumors abound. Either way, for the most part, it is just another one of those days. Nothing special, and doubtful to lead to anything special. Some would mourn, and some would hide. But eventually, they would shake off their slumber and walk out into the light of day like the rest of us, to just another day.


Sunrise

Most people take something so beautiful, marvelous, life-giving, and world-changing for granted every day because it happens every day. But what if the sun didn't rise? Sorrow and depression would abound, that which is green would dry up, and starvation and sickness would increase. The world would be cold, everything would move slower, and the time would be lost. Oh, if the sun didn't rise, how we would look longingly to the east, desiring to see that beautiful, life-giving light of the world we heard would come. But that Sunday, the Son did rise. It was so beautiful, marvelous, and life-giving, and it changed the world. And perhaps because it's spoken of every day, you don't think much of it. But because the Son did rise, sorrow and depression can be bound. That which is dried up and dead can be given new life. The hungry will be fed. The sick will be healed. The world has the warmth of the Son's embrace; time quickly passes, and we know these could be the last days. Now we can look, each with his brother, sister, neighbor, and friend on and through whom the light of the world can shine; now we can look to the Son, for in the sky He rose, and we have heard from the sky He will come again.