“Happening In The Will Of The Father!”(Mt.27:32-56).
As we commemorste the crucifixion and death of Jesus we learn the following from the story of the crucifixion – the list is however not exhaustive:
- None of his close aides is anywhere nearby. One full of guilt has aleady committed suicide, while the others, for fear of their own lives are in hiding.
- The religious authorities are there mocking and taunting him: “He saved others, but he can’t save himself! He is the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trust in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.'”
In the same way those who passed by hurled insults at him, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” Even the robbers who were crucified with him mocked him. - Even Jesus felt God’s absence and he expressed it, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
- Many women were there, “watching from a distance.”
- None of Jesus’ relatives is there in his hour of need!
- At that moment when he died on the cross, the first and greatest post-dead Confession of faith came from a Roman military officer, a centurion. Seeing all the miraculous happenings when Jesus gave up the spirit, this centurion declared, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
- When Jesus died,“the curtain of the temple was torn into two from top to bottom.” This curtain seperated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies that was entered into by the high priest only on rare occasions.
The tearing of the curtain signified that the death of Jesus gave direct access to God’s presence by any one who comes to him. This is what makes this Friday a good one; othetwise the day of somebody’s death can never be a good one.
Today is a Good Friday because on that cross he carried our sins away so that the LORD should make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us.
Above all, it is a Good Friday because through death he conquered death and rose victorious to gain a superior spiritual sovereignty!
Unbeknown to his assasins, all the things that was happening on this day, that Friday was happening in the will of the Father!
My friend, in this life you are going to pass through trials and tough times. People will mock and insult. Family and friends may abandon you and you may even begin to wonder whether God has not abandoned you! Do not despair, do not give up hope! God is still on the throne! Your travails is a refinery through which God is refining you to become a perfectly alluring product! Cheer up and keep hope alive! Happy and blessed Good Friday! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.