T.G.I.F.

Today's the day we commemorate The Passion;

The day we reflect on Jesus' sacrifice of atonement for us.

This day holds such significance because we will never understand God until we understand the cross.

The Romans considered death by crucifixion to be not just an execution, but the most obscene, the most disgraceful, the most horrific means of death known to mankind.

But I'm going to refrain from going into medical detail. Because all too often, we focus primarily on the physical suffering that Jesus underwent for us. In doing so, we actually lessen the significance of what He accomplished. It is not the physical sufferings of Jesus that the Bible emphasizes.

Christ endured the wrath of God against all of our sin. Not only did He endure hell for us, but He conquered it. That we might not perish, but have eternal life.

"God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." - 2 Corinthians 5:21

23 simple words. 26 short syllables. But miss this and you miss the truth of God.

And here is the "News" of the Gospel, which makes this Friday so "Good": it doesn't matter what sins you've committed, how much you've accumulated, or how guilty you feel. When Jesus cried out "It is finished", it was not just a mere proclamation, but a spiritual truth. The penalty for sin has been paid in full. What He accomplished in His death was so total, so complete that it could never be repeated. When you believe you are too terrible for God's forgiveness, you offend the work of the cross by claiming it insufficient. There is nothing more that could save you, the death of Christ was enough. Accept the gift of salvation extended to you by means of the cross, and rejoice.  Because God claims everything, even this day on which our Savior died, and orchestrates it for His good.

"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken and smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed."- Isaiah 53: 4&5