As Good Friday approaches along with Easter Sunday, how do we prevent this weekend from passing us by as just “another holiday weekend”? What should our thoughts be focused on? What would God like to say to us during this time? Where should our minds and hearts be focused? These are questions I have been pondering for the last few days in preparation for the most important weekend of the year for Christians. Here is what I have come up with.
1. Christ’s death and resurrection secures fellowship with God.
You were created for fellowship with God. Peter tells us that, “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but He died for sinners to bring you safely home to God.” (1 Peter 3:18)
Jesus died on Good Friday. He rose the following Sunday morning. Why? His death was the Father’s strategy to bring each individual person back to Himself. We were all created to be in a personal relationship with God, but sin broke that fellowship.
Jesus’ death on Good Friday was a sacrifice for our sins, and His resurrection finished sin off. His work on the cross means that we now have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins and be restored to a relationship with God. The author of Hebrews says, “For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22)
2. Christ’s death and resurrection empowers you to live holy.
Again, to quote Peter, “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.” (I Peter 2:24) It is true that the work of the cross makes it possible for people to go to heaven when they die; however, the cross also means that we can begin to live eternal life right now.
Christ’s death and resurrection brought the Holy Spirit to us. As we learn to live with the Spirit, yield to Him, and follow Him, we can live in victory over sin. The Apostle Paul explained it in Galatians 5:16, “So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
3. Christ’s death and resurrection should lead us to deep gratitude.
John writes, “All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.” (Revelation 1:5) Jesus went to the cross, died a humiliating and excruciatingly painful death for our sins, and then took his life back from the grave because He loved us. He Himself said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
It was you and I who should have paid the price. We were the guilty ones; however, in mercy and grace, the Father offered up His one and only Son as the sacrifice for sins. Amazing! The Apostle John writes, “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (I John 4:10) We should be moved deeply to give God glory and to show Him our deep appreciation and gratitude for all that He has done for us.
Jesus’ work on the cross makes fellowship with God possible, gives us the power to live in victory over sin, and should produce deep levels of gratitude in us. I have been blessed as I have pondered these thoughts. My hope is that you will be, too.
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