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Tag: Good Friday

The ‘good’ in Good Friday

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On April 3, 2015

In Christian

It is Good Friday and I wondered as to, how could a day in which the perfect sinless Son of God was murdered, with excruciating cruelty, be deemed “Good” Friday?

To answer this, we ought not to resort to the speculations of men, but instead we ought to go to the Holy Bible and seek the answer that is divine.

The first chapter of the book of Genesis starts out with the creation account in which the word “good” is mentioned at the end of each day, except that of the day when man was created, for God said it was not good for man to be alone. Man, who was created imago deo (in the image of God) to be a “relationship” being, just as the Triune God  (God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Spirit) is One – One in relationship. But with the disobedience of man, this relationship between God and man was severed and the state of affairs was dire, for sin came in to the world and by sin, death (Romans 5:8). Man who was made as a living soul (Genesis 2:7) was now corrupted and it took the incorruptible Christ (1 Peter 1:3-5) to save man. This is the good news – that while we were yet sinners, God demonstrated his love for us, as Christ died for us (Romans 5:12).

In the last chapter of the book of Genesis, we see that Joseph, the dreamer, now prince of Egypt, responded with love and kindness to his very own brothers, who had schemed to kill him, and who had sold him as a slave. Joseph is even put in prison for false allegations made against him by his master’s wife, forgotten in the prison, till God raises him to become the second in command to the Pharaoh and rule from the palace. Joseph uses the God given wisdom to store food during the time of plenty for the time of need (famine) thereby becoming a means to the salvation of many. When Joseph confides with his brothers, who had failed to recognize him, after his rise to reign, he expresses “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” (Genesis 50:20).

Points to ponder: 
God means all things for good (to those who love him and are called according to his purpose). Though man may mean evil against us, God means it for good.

Men meant evil against Jesus and crucified him, being blinded by the evil one (the devil) as Jesus expressed that they (the men, his executioners) did not know what they were doing. But what man intended as evil against Jesus, God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people (who believe in him) and give them life. Since God meant the murder of Jesus, his only begotten Son, unto good, we call this day, wherein we remember the crucifixion of Jesus, as “Good” Friday. This is the good in Good Friday.

Are you one who has believed in this good news? The good news is that God meant good for all of mankind by sending Jesus to save much people alive. Happy Good Friday!

Genesis 50:20 (KJV)
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 

Behold :: Woman, Behold thy Son! … Behold thy Mother!

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On March 27, 2013

In Christian, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ third saying from the Cross was addressed to Mary his mother and to the disciple whom he loved and it is recorded in the gospel according to the apostle John in chapter 19 verses 26 and 27. In this saying, Jesus tells Mary and the disciple standing beside the Cross,  to look (behold) at each other, and from that hour, the disciple takes her to be part of his own home (family).

Jesus addresses his mother as ‘Woman’. The very first time the word ‘Woman’ is used in the Bible, it is used in the context of establishing a family, when Adam (the first man) calls Eve (his wife) ‘woman’ as he recite the first love poem of her being the bone of his bones and the flesh of his flesh (Genesis 2:23). From the Cross again, Jesus is using the same word ‘Woman’, to address his mother, here in the context of establishing a family for her.

Also, did you notice that Jesus tells his mother and his disciple to look at each other. Just as it was in the garden of Eden, God is interested in establishing familial relationships from the Cross.

Points to ponder:
The world is attempting to redefine what constitutes a family, many a times, violating the plan that God has planned since the first family between a man and a woman, in the garden of Eden. God wants us to look (behold) at the family and accept the widows, orphans, and others who have no one for them, as our own family. After all the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross beckons us to look at (behold) God as he takes us, the Church which is the bride (woman) of Jesus Christ, to be adopted into his family. Church, Behold the Family! Behold!

John 19:26-27 (KJV)
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Post Resurrection :: Appearance of Jesus

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On April 11, 2012

In Christian

Following his resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11), two on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13), his disciples (Mark 16:14), a gathering of 500 (1 Corinthians 15:6), and all of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7), but what is interesting to note, is that while some who saw the risen Christ worshipped him, there were others who doubted (Matthew 28:17).

Points to ponder:
Jesus said to Thomas, because you have seen, you have believed, but blessed are they who believe in me even if they have not seen me (John 20:29). For when we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of all mankind, the end result would be ascribing unto him worship. Today, if the risen Lord appears to you and the eyes of your heart sees him, will you worship him or will you doubt? Don’t be a doubter!

Matthew 28:17 (KJV)
 17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

John 20:29 (KJV)
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 

Jesus was rightfully accussed

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On April 10, 2012

In Christian

Leading to the crucifixion of Jesus, the people who were seeking his death, accused Jesus of two things primarily, and guess what, they were right. One of the accusation was that he was Christ (Luke 22:66-71), which is spiritual in nature. The other accusation was that he was a king, which is physical in nature, pertaining to the things of this world (Luke 23:2).
Though Jesus was rightfully accused (for he is indeed the Christ; the anointed one of God and he is the King; the King of kings indeed), he was wrongfully condemned to death, for Pilate found no fault in Jesus (Luke 23:22), yet handed him over to be crucified.

Points to ponder:
Jesus was rightfully accused to be Christ, the Son of God and as the King, but wrongfully condemned so that when we believe in him and walk according to his Spirit, there is no condemnation for us (Romans 8:1). Jesus is both Christ and King. Do you know him as Christ and King?

Luke 22:66-71
66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
67 Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
68And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
69 Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
70 Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am71And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

Luke 23:1-3 (KJV)
1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

Jesus Amongst Thieves

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On April 9, 2012

In Christian

Interestingly, Jesus was accused of many things so that they could crucify him, but not as a thief, yet he was numbered with the transgressors (Isaiah 53:12) and was crucified in between two thieves, according to the Scripture (Matthew 27:38; Mark 15:27). For those who are familiar with the crucifixion account, one of the thieves was repentant and believed in Jesus as Lord and King (Luke 23:42) while the other was rebellious and refused the Redeemer on the Cross.

While reading this account, let us be careful to not just write off these thieves as two individuals, recorded in history, in the event of the Crucifixion. Accordingly to Malachi 3:8, the Bible establishes the fact that, many a times, we act as thieves as well. We rob God in our tithes (by withholding what is already his) and in our offering (by not offering our bodies as a living sacrifice).

Points to ponder:
Jesus finds himself, even today, amongst thieves, but the question that remains is what kind? Symbolically the two thieves that hung along side Jesus, reflects the dichotomy that exists in our society as to how one perceives the Redeeming Jesus Christ on the Cross; some have a change of heart, while others harden it. The one who believed and repented was assured of Salvation. Which kind of thief are you and  I – a rebel or a repentant one? Jesus is amongst thieves, amongst you and me and we can’t rob him.

Malachi 3:8 (KJV)
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

What is the Maundy in Maundy Thursday

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On April 9, 2009

In Christian

Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the immediate Thursday that precedes Good Friday (that commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion) and Easter (that commemorates Jesus’ victory over sin and death by his resurrection from the dead).

As I researched the origin of the word, “Maundy”, I was surprised to learn that it is a derivative from the word mandé that was used in the medieval times of England and archaic France, with roots to the Latin word mandatum. Mandatum is the first word in the phrase “Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos” which is recorded in John 13:34 that states “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you“. This was said by Jesus as he washed his disciples feet, demonstrating that just as He, the God of the universe came to serve, we must also do so, with compassion/love (the new commandment) and humility.

This Maundy Thursday, let us realize that we are given

  1. a new commandment (mandatum) to LOVE (God first, and all others as ourselves next) as God loves us (which  is unconditional, sacrificial and sanctifying)
  2. a commission to SERVE – for just as God (Jesus) washed the feet of his disciples, we must also humble ourselves to serve one another. A leader for God is a Servant unto him and men/women first.

John 13:34
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

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