'It is finished'
This Good Friday was in fact , for a number of reasons, a very good friday indeed.In the morning I headed to JT's church for the Good Friday service, and it was a very encouraging experience. It was great to experience a smaller church community after being apart of such a large one for such a long time. The numbers may be small, but their heart & love for our Lord certainly isnt! It was great to see Josh in action up the front and to see the support and encouragement he recieved from members of the congregation. As I shared in communion with a bunch of people Id never met it was so encouraging to remember how we are united in Christ.
Furthermore, we were presented with a brilliant sermon. As we read the words of John 18 & 19, we focused on 3 simple yet hugely significant words of Jesus - "It is finished".At the moment when Jesus breathed his last up on that cross His purpose on this earth was fulfilled, His mission completed. Completed. Finished. That means that all sin of the world was dealt with. It does not still need to be dealt with, it was faithfully and effectively dealt with in one death, the death of Jesus. If that isnt reason to praise God now and forever, I dont know what is!
I hope and pray you all had an enjoyable good friday and have the same for the rest of easter, but that mostly you will remember the significance of these days - that it is finished and that life and hope are offered!
Here are the words to the song 'Kneeling' by Garage Hymnal to help you reflect on the bitter sweet truth of the cross and the glory of the resurrection...
Kneeling in that garden, death before Him
From His brow the sweat dripped crimson red
And in that place He felt so God forsaken
Yet "Father not my will but Yours," He said
And with that kiss of death He met betrayal
And trial for these crimes He did not do
But willingly He suffered there in silence
Its eternal worth outweighed the pain He knew
The crowd cried for a murderer "release him"
Replaced him with this man of innocence
But still His worthy plea remained unspoken
At last my pure Lord was sentenced death
And walking up that hill His heart was broken
With torture such my body never knew
But still He kept on walking right towards
The pain that sealed the gift for me and you
Those nails that drove into His hands of freedom
That locked Him to the cross of pain He knew
Were crafted by the sins I have committed
The punishment for all that I would do
And how His body on that cross was broken
That crown of thorns that pierced His head so pure
In those dying breaths He breathed forgiveness
The sting of death at last would meet its cure.
Darkness fell upon the land for hours
And mocking insults all around Him flew
Until at last His voice cried up in anguish
The curtain in the temple ripped in two
And limp His body hung for my salvation
And in a grave so cold they laid His head
But when they did return they found Him risen
Returned to life again just as He said
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