Scripture Reading: Matthew 26:1-75, Daniel 7:13-14, 1 Corinthians 2:7-8
Some things never get old. My second-grade students love the Get-Out-of-Jail-Free cards they find while playing Monopoly every bit as much as my generation did when we were first introduced to the game. Without it, jail is an unnecessary evil that torments them. It requires them to wait and risk the possibility of losing the entire game. Their agony is especially arduous once they learn there is a card that could help them avoid it all.
I can’t help but think of Jesus when I see that Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card. The Son of Man is the only one who has ever had access to it when we consider our eternal destiny, and He could have pulled it out any time. When Peter struck the Roman soldier’s ear to cut it off, Jesus instructed Peter to put his sword away (Matthew 26:51–52). Furthermore, Jesus told the disciples and all those who had gathered that He could have called on His Father at any point and been provided with twelve legions (72,000) of angels. Jesus had a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card but resisted the urge to use it for our advantage.
Pointing out that He had sat in the temple day after day without being seized, Jesus surrendered His power and His privilege so that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled (vv.55–56).
Jesus referred to Himself as the Son of Man—a title from Daniel 7:13–14. There, Daniel prophesied that the Ancient of Days had given the Son of Man everlasting dominion that would be impossible to destroy. However, none of the Pharisees, scribes, or rulers understood what it truly meant (1 Corinthians 2:8). They expected their Savior to wield His power by exercising force and exacting revenge on their enemies. They did not expect Him to forfeit His power so that He could restore all people to relationship with the Father. Knowing He had a Get-Out-of-Jail-Free card, our great God chose to ignore the opportunity to utilize it, and it was good.
As people, we have a limited capacity to understand what God calls good and what He chooses to use for His glory and ours. At the time, God’s people thought the best thing He could do for them was rescue them from Roman rule and the persecution that accompanied it. They rejected Christ’s claims when He appeared before the Sanhedrin. Crying, “Blasphemy!” they could not understand how Jesus’s claims could be good. Thankfully, God never confuses those things that will bring greater glory for what we call good.
Good in God’s kingdom often means surrendering our power, our privilege, and even our prayers to access the presence of God, just like the Son of Man modeled before us.
May we all follow the way the Son of Man, our Savior, submitted to for us.
Written by Liv Dooley
♥️
Good Friday always breaks me. It is a day that has always broken me, even when I was a child. I think this it is because our Hispanic culture pays great attention to remembering the significance and solemnity of this day, including actual processions reenacting the passion of Christ. So there was always an outward expression of the heartbreaking nature of this day.
And while there is an incredibly heartbreaking aspect of the day, it is a day full of thanksgiving. THANK YOU, GOD. Thank you for loving us so much that you sent your Son, Jesus, to atone for our transgressions. He was the only one who could do it— completely perfect and unblemished.
WE ARE NOT ENOUGH– that is the main point of Good Friday. We are not but Jesus was, in his perfect humanity and perfect divinity.
Today I keep thinking of Advent, and the journey that started nine months prior when the Holy Spirit came upon Mary, God’s chosen one to carry His Son. A little baby with the collective debt of the world— past, current and future— on his shoulders. And on Sunday, when we celebrate His Resurrection, it is like a second Advent, and with it we get to be part of the body of Christ.
✝️ That is the Good in God Friday— it is the fulfillment of the Gospel. The Good News.” ✝️
Thank you for your grace, mercy and forgiveness. We do not deserve it, but you love us so much, that you gave it to us, at the highest price ever paid in human history. Because of your Son’s sacrifice, the veil separating us from you, Lord, tore and made it possible for us to now commune with you directly, and be known as people of God. A million thank yous will never be enough. THANK YOU, God. Because of this immense sacrifice, we are yours and nothing will ever change that.
I did not want to get out of bed this morning, knowing that today is very sad, but also very “good”. I appreciated your comment, KELLY (NEO), “ May I encourage you to stay in the day. Don’t be too quick to rush into Sunday, instead sit with Jesus in His suffering.” We know how the story ends, and we all like happy endings. But, I agree, stay here today, sweet sisters.
I am always so sad for Peter and Judas also. I often think, “Oh, Peter.” And thank you, MICHELLE PATIRE, for the connection to Psalm 41 and Judas/the bowl. I often think how I wouldn’t want to dip my hand in the bowl, after Jesus told us who it is that would betray Him. (Could you even imagine?) Is it I, Lord? He would have to answer me, “Ummm… yes.” So, unfortunately, I have a some Peter and some Judas in me.
Sorrow and love meet… thank you, TINA.
Thank you for the reminder, MEME FAYE. I had forgotten to sign up for the “Finished” texts.
Be blessed on this sad, sad day. His death was because of us and also for us.
Amen. I have been listening to older Easter music like Via Dolorosa and remembering All He did for us…it’s amazing. He is so good! I can’t wait to celebrate this weekend with my family, church family, friends! I pray we all see.Jesus truly and those that don’t know Him.will be drawn to Him this weekend!
God is good to us!!!!
Something interesting that my study Bible pointed out today was in verse 25. It mentioned that the disciples at the table that evening were referring to Jesus as “Lord” and Judas referred to him as “Rabbi”. It went on to say that there is not a written account of Judas ever calling Jesus “Lord”.
Good Friday is heavy. I sit here with tears and heartache. I don’t deserve the love that Christ showed and continues to show us. BUT I am so thankful for that cross. So thankful for His love. Let me bow to the cross. Heal me Lord. Break my bad habits. Let me remember the CROSS and Your Love every single day. To keep my eyes up!
Thankful that we know the full story. Sunday is coming!
Even though Jesus knew He must drink of the cup of suffering, He asked Peter, James and John to pray with Him — but they were tired and fell asleep. It’s 8:56 a.m., I’m up since 5:30 and I had a good nights sleep. But still, I find myself very tired and it’s been hard to keep my eyes open as I do this study this morning…what if it were me that Jesus asked to “keep watch” and pray? At this very crucial hour would I have? Or would I have fallen asleep just like the disciples. Probably the later. It stood out to me that 3 x’s Jesus prayed that the cup be taken away and it was also 3x’s that Paul pleaded with the Lord to take away his thorn in the flesh. (2 Corinthians 12:8-10) And to both, God said no. Why? Because it was needful, and God’s grace is sufficient. I am so thankful that Jesus was obedient to the Father and drank the cup of suffering, to pay the price for my sin. It was so painful for Jesus and so needful for us. Thank you Jesus for your shed blood that washed me white.
May we be mindful throughout our day of the greatest sacrifice ever made.