Today is Good Friday. It is the day that Jesus was taken outside the city of Jerusalem and crucified on a cross
for the sins of the world. I thought about that cross today. We see crosses all around us. They are in churches,
on display in homes, they are even a popular piece of jewelry that both men and women wear. And when you
think about it, how amazing it is that we do that. For the cross was a tool of execution for the Roman empire.
We have crosses in our churches but imagine if instead we had replicas of a gallows with a hangman’s noose
that people looked at throughout a service. Or think how you would react if a popular necklace charm was that
of a miniature electric chair. They are all three different modes of institutional execution. We tend to forget the
hard facts of this day…that Jesus was unjustly condemned to death and executed as a criminal because of the
hatred that people had for him. But for me and others who follow this Jesus who died and was raised on
Resurrection Sunday, that cross is a reminder that he went there in my place. That I was guilty of sin…not him.
That I deserved that penalty…not him. But because of his love for me and every other human that has ever or
will ever walk on this planet, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died that criminal’s death on a cross.
To pay for my sin…for our sin, that all who wanted forgiveness could have it. And because of that, God has
elevated him to the place of highest honor and given him the name above all other names, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. This Friday is indeed good…because this is the day that
freedom and forgiveness was bought with precious blood. So today, those who love this Jesus can say with the
old hymn “I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down and I will cling to the old rugged
cross and exchange it someday for a crown."
Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Philippians 2:7-11 NLT Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, (8) he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (9) Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Remember I’m praying for you…
With love, PJ
Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Philippians 2:7-11 NLT Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, (8) he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (9) Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, (10) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, (11) and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Remember I’m praying for you…
With love, PJ