Good Friday is remembering the day Jesus was crucified. In that sense every day is a Good Friday for me as everyday I am reminded of the crucifiction of my Lord. Similarly everyday would be Easter for me as everyday I am reminded of His resurrection, and again the same case with Christmas!I often wonder how it would have been if I lived in those days - in the first century Palestine - walking along with Jesus and his followers... I often think I would have stayed closer to Him and not deserted like others did! I would have been devastated that night I am sure and would have cried, rolling on the streets, calling out after Him, begging the soldiers to be not too hard on Him, wincing with each blow to Him...
Then I wonder if I am thinking too high of myself... If Peter couldn't stay with Him and even if John himself deserted Him with the ten others, or even Mary for that matter couldn't run out to Him, hug Him, cry for Him, plead for Him, what is there for me to think I would have done it any differently?! If not one single soul from the mutitudes of people who received health, life, food, blessings from Him could come closer, how would I have... I don't think I would have been any different... I would have been a hindrance I am sure, rather than a helper in such a situation...
I am sure I would have believed He will not die - that He will do a miracle and get away with the cross or something like that... I am sure I would have thought He would be the King soon... - putting the soldiers to shame... Many wouldn't have had even the slightest idea that He would die that night... After all He had raised the dead, healed the sick, often preached about establishing His Kingdom, anyone who belived in Him then would have thought He would live thru' that night... I might have too if I were there...
But alas, the unexpected happend! He died on the cross! Let's pause there for a moment! The agony that followed, the hopelessness, the fear, the "left alone" feeling - it would have been terrible, too hard a blow... Most of them had left everything to follow Him, and now if He is no more, what would they do? How will they survive? Who will plead their case, wipe their tears, raise their dead, heal their sick, feed them bread... who?... how?... when?
The agony didn't last longer. It turned to joy the third day when Christ resurrected and appeared to many... They were no more deserted, they now had Him again and death can harm Him no more...
"He Lives!" would have been the greeting of that day, that week, that month, that year and even of that century.. and ofcourse for the rest of the centuries to follow - even today! Indeed He Lives! Absolutely no doubt about it! He lives in me and if you believe, He will live in you too!
Good Friday is good not because He died but because He lives! He died for me and now lives - in order to pay the price for my sins, in order to take me home where He is... No greater love than this I have seen...
Wishing everyone a Happy Good Friday, a Happy Easter and why not a Happy Christmas too!
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