Christ's Final Week - Friday

We call today Good Friday. It is good because of what Christ has done for us. It is good because it was on such a day that Jesus gave his life for us - that we might find forgiveness for sin. I have visited Israel twicw now (1974 and 2006). One of the highlights for me has been my visits to the the two disputed spots believed to be where Jesus was crucified. Each time I found myslef reflecting on God's great love for me in allowing his Son to die for me in such a humiliating and painful fashion. And to think that God's Son fulfilled such an event with such suffering. Think about it. Would anyone so willingly do a such a thing?

Mt 27:33-44 The Message
Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call "Skull Hill," they offered him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when he tasted it he wouldn't drink it. After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: This Is Jesus, The King Of The Jews. Along with him, they also crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: "You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days — so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down from that cross!" The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He saved others — he can't save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We'll all become believers then! He was so sure of God — well, let him rescue his 'Son' now — if he wants him! He did claim to be God's Son, didn't he?" Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.