Something to think about…
Isn’t it amazing how much can change in a few short days. What happened just a few days ago can feel like ages, and something that happened decades ago may seem like it was only yesterday. Time is a funny thing. Today is Friday, but Sunday is coming soon. Friday is another world; another age, but everything will change on Sunday.
At about 1 a.m. on Friday morning, inside the walls of Jerusalem, the city began to stir. It was common, on this night, for families to sleep less than four so that the joy of Passover could be fully savored. It was a celebration full of excitement and anticipation. Not far outside the city walls was a deep green grove of olive trees surrounding a garden known as Gethsemane. It is there that we see this figure of a man lying on the rocks, sweating great drops of blood, struggling in agonizing prayer. We hardly recognize Him, but it is Jesus. There He is all alone in the dark. That was Friday.
I love the way that Tony Campolo tells the story of Good Friday:
“It’s Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. He is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. That was Friday, but Sunday’s coming.
“It’s Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather whips that have bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body.
“See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a coming.
“It’s Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.” Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, as He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, ‘My God, My God. Why have You forsaken me?’ What a horrible cry. That was Friday, but Sunday’s coming.
“It’s Friday. And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s coming.
“It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it yet, but Sunday’s a coming.” (Tony Campolo)
We live in a Good Friday world. You may be facing some dark and difficult situations today. You may be tempted to give up hope; to believe the lies of this dark world. Friends, I’m here to tell you that was Friday, but hold on, Sunday is coming! Jesus is not dead, He is alive! The tomb is still empty! He is risen!
And that changes everything. Don’t give up hope. Hold onto Him because Sunday is coming!