On this day, known throughout the Christian world as Good Friday, followers of Jesus Christ celebrate the greatest tragedy, yet the greatest triumph, of all history—the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth. It is a seeming paradox—i.e., a single event can be both a tragedy and a triumph. But Christians serve a God who excels in paradoxes, mystery, and the supernatural.
When it comes to the crucifixion of Jesus, the most obvious question is: Why did he have to die? The answer to that question is simple: Because humanity was in need of a savior. The truth of this answer is easy enough to see. The vast majority of souls on the earth are still in need of a savior. Just look at the state of the world: crime, greed, hate, wars, addiction, suffering, betrayal, lying....the list goes on and on.
It's all the result of something the Bible calls sin, beginning back at the Garden of Eden, when the first man and first woman, Adam and Eve, chose to disobey God (Gen. 3:6-7) , and through that choice, separated not only themselves, but all of their progeny, from God. Humanity, in a word, died— spiritually died. Death entered the world, not only spiritually, but also physically. Creation was cursed. The world fell into chaos. Satan became the ruler of the planet. And God and man were estranged: "Your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear" (Is. 59:2).
But God, in his infinite love and wisdom, provided a way of deliverance, wherein we could be forgiven for our sins, while at the same time, his holy wrath and need for justice could be satisfied. He came to earth himself, in the form of Christ Jesus, and by dying for our sins on the cross of crucifixion, he was able to free those whom he loved so much. This great triumph was the atonement—that glorious event that took place when Jesus died for us, in our place, as a substitute for us, so that we might receive eternal life.
God in human flesh died for us, so that we could live with him. The power of death was broken:
We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law" (Romans 5:11-13).
Those of us who now accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior can rejoice, having been forgiven and having been freed from the slavery of sin by grace alone through faith alone in his finished work at Calvary. So rejoice this day, looking forward to Resurrection Sunday, when Christ proved his divinity and power over death by rising from the grave in glory, which serves today as a guarantee that we, too will be raised unto eternal life (Acts 2:24; 1 Cor. 15:20-23).
Again, I say, REJOICE! For Christ died in our place (2 Cor. 5;21; Gal. 3;13; Heb. 9:28; 1 Pet. 2:24), bore the punishment for sin that rightly should have fallen on us (Eph. 5:2), which in turn reconciled us to God (Rom. 5:8-10; 2 Cor. 5;19), and redeemed us from the bondage of sin and death (1 Cor. 7:22-23). He bore the sins of the world while on the cross (1 Pet. 2;24; Col. 1:20). And now, by grace alone through faith alone (Eph. 2:8-10), those of us who have turned to him can be assured that on this Resurrection Sunday that is so close, we will be celebrating an event never before seen, and never again to be repeated: the setting free of humanity!
I wish you all a glorious Good Friday and a miraculous Resurrection Sunday.
peace in him,
Richard Abanes
