Holy Week Devotionalنموونە

Today is Good Friday. You would think it'd be called dark Friday or bad Friday or sad Friday. What makes this a Good Friday? Here's why: Because according to Hebrews 9:22, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. The Temple on the Mount is where they used to offer sacrifices, lambs, goats, bulls on the altar for the forgiveness of sins. But it was only a temporary solution to the sin problem. And Jesus comes onto the scene and offers Himself as a greater sacrifice, an eternal solution to our sin.

He brought total forgiveness on the cross. He also demonstrated a life of forgiveness on the cross by forgiving those who were crucifying him. Think about this: when did Jesus decide to forgive? It wasn’t when he got out of the grave appeared as resurrected, healed Jesus. Jesus forgave them, WHILE he was being hurt. Don’t wait to forgive, do as Jesus did and forgive immediately.

He became the once and final sacrifice for our sins. The Bible says in John 19:30, when he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” Those are three of the most powerful words in the Bible. Your sins are finished, your bondage is finished, the purposelessness in your life is finished. You can have freedom because of Jesus.

So today is a good Friday because, whatever you're struggling with, Jesus brought the solution on the cross for you. His suffering was significant. His punishment was for a purpose. He took the punishment we deserved so that we can now live the life He deserved.

This is Grace. Take a moment right now and reflect on the body and blood of Jesus. His body that was whole became broken, so that we who are very broken can be made whole. His blood, that was sinless, was sacrificed and poured out, so that we who are sinful can be seen as forgiven in God's eyes.

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice on the cross! We will always remember what you have done for us on this Good Friday.

Today as you pray: take a moment to just sit in silence with the Lord and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice for us.