Tag Archives: It is finished

The Friday that was Good

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Good Friday everyone. This is the Friday that was Good. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Thank you Jesus for Calvary! Thank you for the cross. And even though it’s a couple of days away, I am so thankful He didn’t stay in the tomb. It is empty!!

You can read my other posts on Holy Week here, here, here, here and here. Please come back tomorrow and Resurrection Morning (before or after church!) for our final conclusion. 

“And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Mark 15:37, 38 NKJV.

The veil in the Temple separated the Holy Place from the Holiest of Holies. Only the High Priest could even enter the Holiest of Holies, no one else was allowed. Inside was the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, and Manna. The High Priest could only go into the Holiest of Holies once a year to roll away the sins of the people for another 365 days. (Day of Atonement)

This Holiest of Holies represented the presence of God.

The Israelites could not approach God for themselves. They had to have others to plead for their sins.

But everything changed on the Friday that was Good.

It is a Holy Friday and with good reason! We cannot talk of the Cross without realizing there was a Holy God, a Good God, paying the price.

Look at all that was going on in the spirit world when Jesus was dying. 

When Jesus took His last and final breath, the earth shook violently, thunder rolled and a magnificent thing happened in the Temple. The massive curtain, which, according to Jewish historical descriptions, was approximately 30 feet wide, 60 feet high and three inches thick, was impossible for man to rip apart! It was said that it took 300 priests just to wash it. That’s big.

That veil separated man from God’s presence. So when God literally tore it into two pieces, from the top to the bottom, it was very significant.

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2.

When Jesus died, things changed forever. We could now enter that Holy Place, God’s Presence, all by ourselves. Without fear!

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh…” Hebrews 10:19-20.

Now the priests were no longer the only ones who could WORSHIP!

Worship was now for everyone.

Do you realize what that means?

We are able to worship the Savior personally, have a living relationship with the One who hung on the cross!

And…it gets better.

We  can, and should, worship God anywhere! 

  • In a church, yes, please worship Him there!
  • Out in the woods? Worship Him!
  • Walking down the road? Worship Him!
  • Driving in your car? Worship Him!
  • About to have a meal? Worship!
  • Breathing today? Worship, worship, worship!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16.

Because of Calvary, because of “It is finished”, we have direct access to Jesus Christ.

Don’t be discouraged today if you are quarantined on this Friday that is Good. Rejoice because the veil was torn and wherever WE are, HE is!

Friday is Good because without Friday there would be no Resurrection Sunday. Join me tomorrow as we anticipate the Risen Savior.

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Today we are all Peter

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Easter. So much to so many. We are blessed, friends. So blessed if we know this King of Glory. If you are able to worship with others of like-precious faith today? You are blessed! Let us not take it for granted, but let us be forever grateful and take time to worship the ONE, Christ Jesus, who gave His life for us. You can read the rest of this week’s Holy Week posts here: Hosanna, Hanging on His Every Word, Put Away Your Sword , He Lives, What did Jesus do on Thursday?, Friday is Good and Make it as sure as you can. You have blessed me with your response and added thoughts!

It is hard to find a more impetuous man in the Bible than the apostle, Peter. As a  matter of fact, the synonyms for the word impetuous, describe him even better:
  • Impulsive, yet brave.  “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Matthew 4:18-20 NIV.
  • Hasty, yet protective. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must…be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:21-23.
  • Bold, but unthinking. “And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” Luke 22:33, 34.
  • Courageous and spontaneous. “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:28-30.
There are more. So many more, but to compile all of his antics, heroics and corrections would take up too much space.
Peter is mentioned FIRST when the disciples are listed in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 10.

Yet he failed. Many times, he failed the Lord. Even up to the most critical hours before the crucifixion, Peter fails.

So it is with great significance that we read this passage in the Bible AFTER the crucifixion.
After the death of Jesus.
After “It is finished.”
“And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.’” Mark 16:5-7 NKJV.
Did you see it? “Go tell His disciples”, the man says, that Jesus is alive and going before you into Galilee.
Today we are all Peter

Oh, and tell Peter.

I am overwhelmed by the love shown by the Lord here!

Jesus knew the guilt that Peter was struggling with after his denial of Christ. Jesus knew that he would feel unworthy to come face to face with Him again.

He knew the enemy’s tactics.
You failed.
You’re finished.
You can’t find forgiveness again.
He doesn’t want you.
He doesn’t need you.
You. Are. Worthless.
But no, friend, that’s not where our Lord leaves Peter! Jesus has been pretty busy the last few hours. Let’s recount: He has hung on a cruel cross for what seemed like “forever”. He died an agonizing death that no one should ever suffer. Then, while Pilate and his buddies are plotting how to KEEP the King of the Jews in the grave, Jesus is out getting the keys to death, hell and the grave!

But Jesus, even with His schedule, and His mission, takes time to remember one brokenhearted soul.

He takes the time to make sure Peter knows He is forgiven.
He is loved.
He is remembered.
He is wanted.
He is even needed.

It doesn’t matter what you have done, Peter. It doesn’t matter how many times you failed me. I am not remembering your mistakes. I have come back to give you hope.

And a mission. Jesus had given Peter a mission. “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 
Peter spends the rest of his life preaching the Good News, the Gospel, that Jesus is alive! He has overcome the grave and we can too…through His blood that He shed on Calvary!
Peter preaches the first message of The Church in Acts 1 and 2 and 3,000 souls are filled with the Holy Ghost. He continues to share, and share, and share, until his words that one time cost him to weep bitterly, come back to him one more time.

“Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!”

 See, Peter died a martyr’s death. Whether he intended it or not, or remembered it, (although I would like to think he did when his time came) he received his chance to give his life for his Lord and Savior.
So friend, what is hindering you today? Have you failed at some point in your life?

So did Peter.

Have you stumbled, been broken, confused, hurt, betrayed, lied about, lied, and made so many mistakes you cannot remember them all?

So did Peter.

And the Lord took the time to single him out and say, “Hey, and be sure and tell Peter too. He would want to know I forgive him.” (my paraphrase)
Jesus remembers you today too.
You are the “why” on the cross.

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He paid it all so you would not have to. Accept that forgiveness today. Let Him in!
That message wasn’t just for Peter that day. It was for you too.

“Hey, be sure and tell __________ I’m alive. Forevermore.”

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They sang a hymn…

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You can read my other posts from this Holy Week here, here, and here!

“And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

I love the beginning of this passage. I don’t believe I had really noticed it before but I am so happy the Lord allowed me to see it today.

They sang a hymn.

Wouldn’t you love to know what the Lord sang with His disciples before Gethsemane? Before standing in front of those that would beat Him and mock Him? Before Calvary? Before “It is finished.”!
It is enough to know they did, even if we do not know the words. There is truly so much strength in song, in praise and worship. This week is one of the best for old hymns. I love the new songs too but I was raised with a songbook in my hands and on Easter mornings I can still recall turning to our favorite pages to sing songs such as He Lives!, The Old Rugged Cross, Jesus Paid it All, and Because He Lives.

But it’s the next part of the text that really spoke to me.

 And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.’  Peter said to him, ‘Even though they all fall away, I will not.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.’  But he said emphatically, ‘If I must die with you, I will not deny you.’  And they all said the same.” Mark 14:26-31 ESV.

You will all fall away.

One of the saddest passages in the Bible! Jesus knew that the disciples would leave Him, yet He went to Calvary anyway.
He knew Peter would deny Him, but He paid the price anyway.
Those that were the closest to Him for the last three years would walk away when He was facing the trial of His life.
The last part of that section says, “And they all said the same.” They all said, just like Peter, that they would never forsake the Lord, they would even die with Him. I believe at that moment they were sincere but when it came down to facing the soldiers, they couldn’t hold up.
We have all fallen away at some point in our lives. We might not have been like Peter and said, “I never knew Him!” but we have failed, just the same.
He knew we would. He knows we will again. Yet on to Calvary He went, enduring the suffering and agony of a crucifixion, the cruelest death anyone could face.
Why? Because He loved us.
Jesus looked ahead, PAST Calvary, to our futures, and endured the cross.

Without Calvary, we would have no hope and no future.

What do you need hope in today? Good Friday (the cross) and Easter Sunday (the Resurrection!). It’s all wrapped up in that weekend, but it didn’t end there. The blood that was shed that day still covers sin today. The price He paid all of those years ago is still good today! We just have to accept it.
Don’t just celebrate the cross…He isn’t on it…and not just the tomb…He isn’t in it!
But celebrate the fact that He gave and came out of that tomb so that we could also have eternal life.
Is it well with your soul? It was all for a purpose, friend, He IS coming back and the signs are all around us…turn to Jesus today!

Blessed Easter!