The soldiers led Jesus away into the courtyard of the palace known as the governor’s headquarters, and they called together the whole company of soldiers. They dressed him up in a purple robe and twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on him. They saluted him, “Hey! King of the Jews!” Again and again, they struck his head with a stick. They spit on him and knelt before him to honor him. When they finished mocking him, they stripped him of the purple robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. Mark 15:16-20 CEB
If today is Good Friday, what’s so good about it?
Let’s recap the events of Jesus’ life this week. He was betrayed by one of his own to be handed over to the Roman authorities and arrested. When the authorities arrived, his closest followers all fled and left him alone, of which the leader of the group denied even knowing him. Not once, but three times. He faced two quick and unjust trials in the wee morning of that day. One in the presence of the high priest, Caiaphas, and one by the Judean Governor, Pontius Pilate. Pilate tries to release him, but the crowds clamor to crucify him. The same crowds that shouted his praises just a few days before on Palm Sunday.
He was led away to be executed, and as we read from the passage above, he was mocked, humiliated, tortured, spit upon, and insulted. He was nailed to a cross between two criminals. After hours of hanging on the cross, experiencing indescribable pain, he breathed his last and died. He was taken away to be buried in a tomb. It seems as if all hope was lost.
Yet, we call it Good Friday because Sunday’s a-coming. A Sunday that completed God’s mission for him on earth. In that, Jesus took our sins upon himself, that we are promised eternal life, that through his death, Death, itself, was defeated, that we are free from bondage of slavery to sin, and in Christ, we are reconciled to God.
You may be experiencing trials in life that leave you feeling hopeless. Maybe you have lost a significant relationship in your life. Maybe you are in such financial strife that you don’t see a way out. Maybe you or someone you love is facing serious medical issues. Maybe you are so burdened down by life that you can hardly get out of bed in the morning.
But don’t despair. For Sunday’s a-coming. In Christ there is always hope. That is the message of Easter.
Sunday is coming! The story of Jesus Christ's crucifixion is one of betrayal, brutality, despair, and pain. Yet we know even before His death that redemption was promised to be coming soon. We know that the story does not end at the cross. We know what many did not realize-that Sunday's coming. The voice for Sunday's Coming is Pastor John L. Jefferson. Watch below:
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