Holy Week-Friday Reflections The Greatest Irony of Grace--Good? Friday Loved, justified, saved from Gods wrath., reconciled to God The suffering of Jesus and His subsequent death on the cross is the greatest of all ironies of grace. His suffering was excruciating by any human standard (just read the four gospel accounts). But death and suffering are all rightfully part of sinful man’s condition. It IS what we deserve—what we have earned: “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). Jesus, on the other hand, never sinned (Heb. 4:15). He had earned no death nor had He earned any suffering. He was perfect God in undefiled human flesh. And He suffered terribly and died an excruciating death—on our behalf, becoming our sin so we could receive His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). If you have never placed your faith in Jesus Christ, Jesus’ death on the cross may seem like some type of martyrdom—but it is not. It is God in Jesus Christ offering His own perfect life and receiving what every human deserves (you and me). In exchange for our sinfulness, through Jesus death, God grants His unconditional forgiveness—salvation to anyone who will believe in Him and call on His name (Romans 10:9-13) For me as a believer, the Friday on which Jesus offered Himself in my place is good… it is VERY good. “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6-11 ESV) Good Friday is GOOD because through the work of Jesus on that day I know that I am loved... I am justified... I am saved from Gods wrath... I am reconciled to God, no longer His enemy... If you have never trusted Jesus Christ, I invite you to do so. This can be your Good Friday as well.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 14:06:45 +0000
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