The word “good” struck a chord with me this morning. Yesterday, I was walking Carl around the block. A neighbor who was walking her dog yelled out to me. “You have a handsome dog.”
“Thanks.” I responded.
“Is he a good dog?”
That was a very difficult question to answer. Just as I was going to respond, Carl began to lunge at her dog and began to growl furiously.
I couldn’t help but think about an hour earlier when a friend came in the door and how I had to pull him off of Bee when he couldn’t get the attention he desired.
But then there are the times that Carl is meek and mild and gives me that adorable little expression that I have come to love.
Today is Good Friday. What was possibly good about this particular day in the life of Jesus?
As the rooster crowed and the morning began, Peter could be found weeping over the fact that he had denied Jesus three times.
Judas, one of the men that had walked with Jesus for the last three years was found hung in the Field of Blood.
The night before, Jesus had been beaten and spat upon and mocked by the religious leaders. Now he was taken in front of the Governor to receive his sentence.
But the Governor’s wife pled with him after having a dream to have nothing to do with Jesus. But being afraid that he would lose his job, he washed his hands and gave the people the choice to have Barabbas, a known murderer or Jesus freed.
Incited by the religious leaders, the people screamed in unison to have Jesus crucified.
What came next was pure torture. Whips made with bits of glass were used to scourge Jesus to the point of death.
Then a purple robe was placed on his open wounds and a crown of thorns crushed onto his head.
After spitting on his face and making a mockery of Jesus, they ripped the robe off and led him up the hill where he would be crucified.
Once Jesus was at Calvary, the soldiers hammered nails into his wrists and feet and raised Him up high for all to see.
Then for six hours Jesus hung on the cross.
Again, I ask, “Why is this called Good Friday?”
Then something amazing happens. Around the third hour with the sun high in the sky, day becomes night.
At this point, could God’s heart be breaking?
And then if it couldn’t get worse, Jesus shares with us what was happening to Him by His last words, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?”
And He gave up His spirit.
But it isn’t over!!!! Maybe there is good in this.
Could the good come from what was happening behind the scenes?
The Bible states that the earth began to erupt and the graves of the saints were opened and they entered into the city and appeared to many.
The veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom so that now we have access to our God.
And we all know what happened three days later? So what started off as a day that couldn’t possibly be good ended for our good.
Thank you Jesus.
