April 5th 2015
Was
Good Friday A Good God Day For You?
Matthew 21:10-11 (NIV)
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Many people on this earth yet today will ask that same question about Jesus, and many will still give the same wrong answer. Some of these people may share a pew with you in the church of your choice this Sunday. For many people, most of the people on this earth today, still believe that Jesus was just a profit who once walked this earth as a man. They would still say, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." However, Jesus did not leave this impression of whom He was, as only, at best, being some kind of a profit! Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, thus not allowing anyone to believe He was just a profit.
So today, we will again relive that day, the first Good Friday when Jesus was nailed to a cross and died. Are you one of those people who are confused about how to answer that old question, "Who is this?" Did Jesus death end His ministry on this earth? If it did then He was just a profit who lied about being the Son of the living God! If you profess to be a follower of Jesus, and thus, call yourself a Christian, then today you MUST revere Jesus as the Son of the Living God, who went to that cross of death for YOUR sins! Jesus came to this earth to serve His Father in heaven. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28, NLT)
Jesus died such a terrible death as a complete atonement for the sins of all mankind, so that, you could experience complete freedom while on this earth, as we know that His death for us freed us to not worry about how we may get to heaven when we die to this life. Luke wrote about a time when Jesus asked His disciples another important question. Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." (Luke 9:18-20)
Do you feel this freedom in your life? If not, why not, are you still grappling with the answer to that simple question, which Jesus is asking you today, "Who do you say I am?" Can you answer Jesus’ question, "Who do you say I am?" as Peter did, when he said you are, "The Christ of God." Are you having trouble answering this question, because if you answer a Peter did, then you are in a minority of the world’s population, and just that makes you wonder if it is true that Jesus is the Savior of this world? Do you have any reservations about believing who Jesus is? People of the atheist religion will tell you there is no god, so there cannot be a son of god!
Are you still thinking from a worldly position, and thus, you fear the people of this world who disagree with you or do you believe there is a God and thus fear Him? This is an important question for every human being to answer. Jesus put some perspective on this, and John wrote about it. If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18-19) Have you allowed Jesus to choose you out of this world? God is worthy of your fear of Him, or as I’d rather state it, to be in awe of God!
When Jesus went to that cross for you (us) He took on all of the sins of mankind from the beginning of time, so that we could be free while yet still living in this cursed world. Jesus told His disciples about this world and how to have peace while still living in it. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Jesus overcame the world for you, so you could experience peace in the midst of this cursed world. Wow! What a relief! Do you feel it yet?
There is coming a time when those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior will leave this life, and then be reunited with Jesus. Jesus prayed for His disciples, which includes those of us who have accepted the grace supplied by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on that first Good Friday over 2.000 years ago. Hear now Jesus prayer for us. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:24-26)
God the Father loves you, and because of that love He sent His Son to die for all of your sins, so that through that grace you will be allowed to be with Jesus when you die to this life. However, in the meantime, because you have accepted His grace you have already started living in the peace that passes all understanding. Do you feel it yet? If you do, then today, this Good Friday will be a good God day for you?
Today is not really about death, but instead it is about eternal life! Will your week be taken up with worldly celebration, as directed by the Easter bunny, or will you be contemplating a return to life and a resurrection from the dead? Let us not go there just yet, but stay in the mood of this solemn day of remembering what Jesus did for you that made it a Good Friday for all eternity!
This is the first day of the rest of your eternal life. Now that is a long time, so don’t be in a hurry, as you now have plenty of time to accomplish everything that is needed. Today is very good, and it is also a Friday!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Matthew 21:10-11 (NIV)
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."
Many people on this earth yet today will ask that same question about Jesus, and many will still give the same wrong answer. Some of these people may share a pew with you in the church of your choice this Sunday. For many people, most of the people on this earth today, still believe that Jesus was just a profit who once walked this earth as a man. They would still say, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." However, Jesus did not leave this impression of whom He was, as only, at best, being some kind of a profit! Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, thus not allowing anyone to believe He was just a profit.
So today, we will again relive that day, the first Good Friday when Jesus was nailed to a cross and died. Are you one of those people who are confused about how to answer that old question, "Who is this?" Did Jesus death end His ministry on this earth? If it did then He was just a profit who lied about being the Son of the living God! If you profess to be a follower of Jesus, and thus, call yourself a Christian, then today you MUST revere Jesus as the Son of the Living God, who went to that cross of death for YOUR sins! Jesus came to this earth to serve His Father in heaven. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28, NLT)
Jesus died such a terrible death as a complete atonement for the sins of all mankind, so that, you could experience complete freedom while on this earth, as we know that His death for us freed us to not worry about how we may get to heaven when we die to this life. Luke wrote about a time when Jesus asked His disciples another important question. Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life." "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." (Luke 9:18-20)
Do you feel this freedom in your life? If not, why not, are you still grappling with the answer to that simple question, which Jesus is asking you today, "Who do you say I am?" Can you answer Jesus’ question, "Who do you say I am?" as Peter did, when he said you are, "The Christ of God." Are you having trouble answering this question, because if you answer a Peter did, then you are in a minority of the world’s population, and just that makes you wonder if it is true that Jesus is the Savior of this world? Do you have any reservations about believing who Jesus is? People of the atheist religion will tell you there is no god, so there cannot be a son of god!
Are you still thinking from a worldly position, and thus, you fear the people of this world who disagree with you or do you believe there is a God and thus fear Him? This is an important question for every human being to answer. Jesus put some perspective on this, and John wrote about it. If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (John 15:18-19) Have you allowed Jesus to choose you out of this world? God is worthy of your fear of Him, or as I’d rather state it, to be in awe of God!
When Jesus went to that cross for you (us) He took on all of the sins of mankind from the beginning of time, so that we could be free while yet still living in this cursed world. Jesus told His disciples about this world and how to have peace while still living in it. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Jesus overcame the world for you, so you could experience peace in the midst of this cursed world. Wow! What a relief! Do you feel it yet?
There is coming a time when those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior will leave this life, and then be reunited with Jesus. Jesus prayed for His disciples, which includes those of us who have accepted the grace supplied by Jesus’ perfect sacrifice on that first Good Friday over 2.000 years ago. Hear now Jesus prayer for us. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:24-26)
God the Father loves you, and because of that love He sent His Son to die for all of your sins, so that through that grace you will be allowed to be with Jesus when you die to this life. However, in the meantime, because you have accepted His grace you have already started living in the peace that passes all understanding. Do you feel it yet? If you do, then today, this Good Friday will be a good God day for you?
Today is not really about death, but instead it is about eternal life! Will your week be taken up with worldly celebration, as directed by the Easter bunny, or will you be contemplating a return to life and a resurrection from the dead? Let us not go there just yet, but stay in the mood of this solemn day of remembering what Jesus did for you that made it a Good Friday for all eternity!
This is the first day of the rest of your eternal life. Now that is a long time, so don’t be in a hurry, as you now have plenty of time to accomplish everything that is needed. Today is very good, and it is also a Friday!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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