As I write this from the comfort of a small town coffee shop, I pause for what I admit to be the first time at the irony of this day – that it is called “Good Friday.” “Bloody Friday” seems a little more fitting. Our natural, physical selves wonder how anything “good” can come from such a day:
They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Mark 15:22-23
And in the same way we ask ourselves this question: How can anything good come from this mistake; this abuse that was done to me; this depression, this eating disorder; this loss; this sickness; this battle I wage against myself?
Hosanna, our weary souls cry: save us!
On Good Friday Jesus set out to prove three days later when He conquered the grave that there is purpose in pain, beauty in ashes, forgiveness from our trespasses, life in death and redemption from brokenness. This hope we would not have, it if were not for what God did on our behalf.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24
In the lyrics of one of my favorite worship song: “You count it strange, so did I before I knew my Savior.”*
To all who are weary – this day is for you – for all of us. We are not alone in our pain. There is purpose. Hang tight and believe in Jehova Rapha – the Lord who heals and makes all wrongs right.
