Realizing our need for forgiveness

For me, it has always been one of those enigmas of my faith, Good Friday.

Chlastak

What is so good about Good Friday?

As a pastor, over the years I have preached and been a part of the “Seven Last Words of Jesus” on the cross services.

I have participated in the carrying of a mock cross on the streets of towns in the communities in which I served.

When I was in seminary one day while attending chapel, a man entered dragging a cross into the chapel and began accosting the speaker of the day.

After several attempts to calm him down, he was escorted out when he continued to challenge the speaker’s words.

I have even seen people walking down the road with a cross with a wheel attached to the bottom to make the carrying easier.

But I don’t think there was nothing easy about carrying a 75-125 pound cross.

During the days of Jesus, the cross struck fear in the hearts of the world.

During the days of Jesus, it was Rome’s means of controlling the people.

According to Roman custom, the penalty of crucifixion was always preceded by scourging, the condemned person had to carry the cross, or at least the transverse beam of it, to the place of execution, exposed to the taunts and insults of the people.

I’ve even read all the medical implications of the whys and how the actual crucifixion was carried out by the Romans.

I don’t know why anyone would want to know all of the gruesome details.

On arrival at the place of execution the cross was uplifted and soon the sufferer, entirely naked, was bound to it with cords.

The person was then, fastened with four nails to the wood of the cross.

Finally, a sign called the titulus bearing the name of the condemned man and his sentence, was placed at the top of the cross

On Good Friday after, the religious leaders requested Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away to facilitate a quicker death and to fulfill the Scriptures.

But, the soldiers did not break Jesus’ legs because, according to the Scriptures, “But when they came to Jesus and they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.” John 19:33

But, to be honest, for me the image of Good Friday is hard.

Yes, I know all of the theological implications of the meaning of the cross, but it is still a hard image.

“For God loved the world in this way: so much that he would give up his Son, The Only One, so that everyone who trusts in him shall not be lost, but he shall have eternal life.” John 3:16

But, why would God, send his son to die upon a cross in such a cruel way to save a people who were so rebellious?

What does such a horrific event that happened some 2000 years ago have to say to us today?

In plain and simple words, it says that God loved the world he created so much that God did and still does go to extreme measures to show that love.

As the old hymn “Such Love” by C. Bishop reminds us “Such love, such wondrous love, such love, such wondrous love, that God should love a sinner such as me. How wonderful is love like this.”

Wow! To think, Jesus came to restore a personal relationship with God and me.

God sent Jesus to be born, teach and die on a cross to save a sinner such as me.

God sent Jesus to restore a personal relationship with each of us.

Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:32.

“Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” 1 Timothy 1:15

For each of us the process of salvation or restoring our relationship with God begins when we acknowledge our sin and realize our need for God’s forgiveness.

That is the hardest thing to do, to admit that we have done anything wrong and that we need to repent and ask God for forgiveness.

Yes, we are all rebellious, just like those people in the crowd taunting Jesus on that first Good Friday.

On this Good Friday, I challenge you who read this message to examine your life.

We must acknowledge our sinfulness and come to the Savior for forgiveness of sins.

As Jesus says to the thief on the cross, “And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said to him, truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in Paradise.”

Let us remember, “For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.” John 3:17