“Good Friday?” Blog #168
So many parts to being alive are really hard, right?
How do I manage another day with more stuff thrown at me?
Where is my internal “reset button” to help me find HIS truth?
Here we are at Good Friday, 2025 and so much has happened going into the end of April.
Already a third of the year behind us now. I look at the people in my own life who surround
me. So many different paths they are on and so many trials and tribulations they
encounter. Some have small annoyances, daily issues to deal with. Others around me
have real loss. They have lost loved ones close to them. Others have serious health issues
taking center stage. Still others have money and debt troubles eating up their day. These
are real life struggles.
So on this Friday, “Why IS this called Good Friday?”
For Christians all over the world - The name “Good Friday” has its roots in Middle English.
This is where “good” once meant holy or sacred. Historically, this day has been observed
by Christians as a solemn occasion of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ”. (orbcfamily.org)
Yet, my takeaway on Good Friday, goes much deeper. This was the last day a real man,
Jesus, lived. Prior to this day HE had spent the early part of his thirties with his disciples.
These carefully chosen disciples were his “fierce friends”. For more than three years they
traveled, spent all their time, and stayed with Jesus. These disciples watched as Jesus
filled their boats with fish overflowing. This, after days and nights of trying to catch fish,
they caught nothing on their own. The disciples attended a wedding with Jesus where he
turned barrels of water into the best wine anyone could drink. They saw Jesus open the
eyes to sight of a man born blind thirty eight years from his birth! The disciples watched in
amazement, a man possessed with demon spirits, shook violently and then was instantly
healed by Jesus! These same disciples saw men with leprosy, beg to be healed. Jesus
reached out his hand and touched them, they were whole and healthy. Then Jesus went
on to speak to five thousand people who gathered to listen to HIM. At the end of the day,
the disciples said there was no way to feed five thousand people out in the country with no
stores! Jesus saw a young boy nearby who had five loaves of bread and two fish. HE
thanked God for increasing this food to supply all the people there. At the end of their
meal, twelve baskets full of bread were left over! More unbelievable miracles were to be
performed. Jesus healed sick people on the verge of death. HE brought them back to life.
One of his last miracles was simply profound. Jesus had been away with his disciples to
another town. Someone came and said, his dearest friend, Lazarus was near death. By
the time Jesus got to Lazarus and his family, Lazarus had been dead for days! When Jesus
got to Lazarus tomb HE cried. The disciples saw how much he loved his friend who had
died. THEN Jesus told his disciples to roll away the stone to the cave. Jesus called out to
Lazarus to come out. Completely bandaged, Lazarus walked out of the cave alive and well
again! All this happened just days before Jesus died.
What kind of a man like this has any evil in him? Why would HE deserve to be nailed to a
cross and die? HE loved everyone. Jesus told his disciples and followers,
God is Love.
The Father and I are one.
SO Jesus IS GOD Almighty.
Watching all these miracles occur, still the disciples abandoned him and ran to hide in
their own homes! One of his closest disciples, Peter, went on to deny even knowing HIM
three times just before Jesus died on Good Friday. Thomas went on to “doubt” Jesus
would ever rise from the dead. The loving, wonderful supportive crowd that laid Palm
branches down for JESUS days before, now turned on HIM saying “crucify HIM, crucify HIM”
W H Y? Because they listened to lies. People were afraid of what they did not know or
understand. Leaders at that time felt it was far better to crucify “ONE MAN” who developed
a large following. Why kill thousands later, in a civil war who were followers of Jesus? So
Jesus was arrested. Hung on a cross to die. What? You might say, WHY didn’t HE save
himself? Jesus had to stay in human form to prove his humanity could overcome pain
and suffering for us. Then, rising from the dead, Jesus proved HE is God Almighty. No one
Found HIS body in the Tomb! An Angel remained to speak to Mary.
What does it take to truly make me a believer in Jesus?
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