The Greatest Friday of All

Today is Good Friday. 

More than 2,000 years ago, the Greatest Friday of All happened. It was when Jesus died on the cross to be the sacrifice for the sins of mankind, including yours and mine now and in the future.

God is all powerful. Did He really need to sacrifice Jesus, His only begotten son so that we can be saved? Can't He just snap His fingers and say "all your sins are forgiven"? If He did so then it means it is the only way. God is full of mystery, my human mind cannot come close to His. In that, I rest in the assurance that He really loves you and me to let Jesus suffer  to redeem us. I am in so much awe!

Learning I have cancer shook my innermost being. I know that even going through surgery and treatment cannot 100% cure me. Death is so real and may be so close to me. I am fighting death because I love my children and family. But I've now also come to the point that death doesn't scare me. I am ready to die.

Here is a classic question: If you die tonight, do you know where you will go? Will you go to heaven or hell?

• "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23)

We are all sinners....we will die not only physical death but eternal damnation in hell.

• "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)

Back to my earlier question why God allowed Jesus to die on the cross on that Greatest Friday of all:

• "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6)

Since Jesus already died on the cross to pay for our sins, then we all have eternal life. Not so.....here's what we are to do:

• "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame'" (Romans 10:9-11)

Jesus wants to be our friend, to have a relationship with us. 

• "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)

The door that Jesus is pertaining to in this verse is our heart, the door of our life.  Don't we welcome our friends and sometimes even strangers to enter our homes and share our food? Sharing food means you welcome the person and want to spend time with them. This is what Jesus wants! He wants to be your friend, and I am reading the verse literally here as it speaks to me. How many times do we eat? Jesus said He will eat with us. So if we eat at least twice a day, Jesus wants to share that same amount of time with us as our friend. Oh, I am just envisioning Jesus being there at our family meals, how wonderful! And how important is food? If you ask me, oh food is life! So Jesus wants me to share my life with Him! If we let Jesus into our hearts, He will be with us 24/7! 

What a friend we have in Jesus! But that is not all, remember that even before we were born, He had us in mind. Not only does He want to share our earthly life, He wants to eat with us for eternity, in HEAVEN!

That is why the Greatest Friday of All happened more than 2,000 years ago.

As you read my blog, I am praying for you my friend. That God will lead you to discover more of His unmeasureable love for you. If you have not yet asked Jesus to enter your heart, say a simple prayer like the one below now to ask Him to come. 

Dear God, I admit I am a sinner in need of You. Please forgive me of my sins and give me abundant life here on earth and eternal life with You in heaven. I believe Jesus died and rose again for my sins. I invite you Jesus Christ to enter my heart to be my Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

If you are already in a relationship with Jesus, I rejoice with you. Let us continue to nurture that relationship.

God bless us all, thank God for that Greatest Friday of All!