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Being Confident Of This

Grace for the work-in-progress woman

It Is Finished

April 2, 2015 by jstults 18 Comments

“Yeah, tomorrow is Good Friday because you get a break from school,” our six-year-old daughter quips.

“No, sweetie, that’s not why we call it Good Friday. We call it Good Friday because that’s the day Jesus took our punishment by dying on the cross and paying for our sins,” I explain.

“Oh, that’s the day Jesus died?  That’s sad.” She grows solemn.

And we talk about it then, right there at the supper table, we talk about how He knew the suffering He would endure, yet He obeyed the Father anyways.

I think of them, His followers, the disciples, and how that day must have seemed anything but good to them. The fear they must have experienced, the sorrow, the confusion. I wonder if they felt hopeless and helpless.

That’s what we humans do when the skies around us grow dark and suffering multiplies – we despair.

It’s our first response to most difficult situations. Like the disciples, we fail to look ahead, for we only see the present, the now.

Yet on Good Friday we call the darkest day of their lives “good”  because we can see now what they could not then.

Why do we call Good Friday good?! Here's what you need to know! #beingconfidentofthis #Easter #devotional #faith Christian growth | doctrine of Good Friday | importance of the cross | Jesus death and resurrection | doctrines of the faith | identity in Christ

We have the broader perspective, the bigger picture. We understand that the pain, the suffering, the darkness and death that day brought were the beginnings of a bigger and brighter glory than any soul had ever known before!

But the death came first, before new life.

Isn’t it the same even now?

We must die to self in order to live for Him. And it’s scary and dark and painful, but it’s oh-so-necessary.

When we find ourselves on the other side, we can look back and call it “good.”

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” Jn 10:9-11

On the other side of the cross painted red, we who believe can call that darkest, death-filled day Good Friday because…

with one fell swoop, one simple yet agonizing act of obedience, sin and death were defeated once and for all!

Good news on Good Friday! Learn the significance of this important Christian Holiday! #christianquotes #bible #Easter

 

So that we might know Him!

“It is Finished.”

Jen 🙂

I’m joining the Five Minute Friday crew this week!  We all gather at Kate Motaung’s place and free-write for five crazy minutes – no planning, no editing, no stressing. 🙂  Come join us if you like!

Also sharing with: Grace and Truth

Given the death and destruction of that day, some may wonder why we now call it Good Friday. Certainly Jesus' followers wouldn't have called it a good day, yet today we call it Good Friday. Why? It Is Finished Thoughts on Good Friday. Easter, Christianity, Faith, Christian Women, Christian posts, Christian encouragement, What's good about Good Friday?

Filed Under: Christianity, Women of Faith Tagged With: blood, death, Devotional Thought, Five Minute Friday, Good Friday, It is Finished, Jesus, New Life, Suffering

Comments

  1. Melinda says

    April 2, 2015 at 23:19

    Oh I love this. It’s so true. The darkest day is the one we call it “Good.” Thank you for writing this today.

    Hugs,
    Melinda
    (visiting from FMF)

    Reply
    • jstults says

      April 3, 2015 at 00:32

      Thanks so much for stopping by from FMF, Melinda!
      Jen 🙂

      Reply
  2. Katie Reid (@ImprintsKatie) says

    April 2, 2015 at 23:26

    Stopping by from FMF. Thank you for declaring His Word, His truth and His lavish love for us!

    Reply
    • jstults says

      April 3, 2015 at 00:32

      I’m so glad you stopped by, Katie, because I really enjoyed your write, as well! He truly loves us well.
      Jen 🙂

      Reply
  3. Carrie says

    April 2, 2015 at 23:37

    Yes! Absolutely! We must die to self in order to live for Him. It isn’t always easy but it’s definitely good. And what Jesus did for us is very good! Thank you for your beautiful, uplifting words!
    Blessings,
    Carrie

    Reply
    • jstults says

      April 3, 2015 at 00:34

      Hi, Carrie, thanks for leaving such encouraging words here for me! Yes, He is good, all the time, even when darkness seems to reign.
      Jen 🙂

      Reply
  4. Anita Ojeda says

    April 3, 2015 at 00:21

    Amen! We can’t have new life and true life unless we experience death–death to self. It’s Good Friday because the plan is in action and there’s no turning back.

    Reply
    • jstults says

      April 3, 2015 at 00:34

      Praise the Lord for that! No turning back now. Thanks for stopping by, Anita.
      Jen 🙂

      Reply
  5. Liz says

    April 3, 2015 at 12:49

    It is a daily choice to die to ourselves; I have to make a very conscious decision every morning. It’s easy to say I love God, but so much harder to truly follow him without letting my own selfishness get in the way.

    Great post, FMF friend!

    Reply
    • jstults says

      April 11, 2015 at 12:40

      Oh, me, too. Sometimes that choice has to be made over and over and over again in a given day! Thanks for stopping by, Liz. 🙂
      Jen

      Reply
  6. Leah Adams says

    April 3, 2015 at 13:28

    It is the great paradox, isn’t it. Something that seemed so horrible could turn out to be good, and be called ‘good’. I wonder if Mary was ever able to call it ‘good’? I wonder when Peter and John called it ‘good’. There are so many layers to peel back on Good Friday. Love this post, Jen. It really made me think. Happy Resurrection Day!

    Reply
    • jstults says

      April 11, 2015 at 12:39

      Yes! So many things in this Christian life are paradoxes, aren’t they? I appreciate you, Leah!
      Jen 🙂

      Reply
  7. Holly Brown says

    April 9, 2015 at 17:05

    This! “But the death came first, before new life. Isn’t it the same even now? We must die to self in order to live for Him. And it’s scary and dark and painful, but it’s oh-so-necessary. When we find ourselves on the other side, we can look back and call it “good.”” YES!! I love this post, thank you so much for sharing it with us (and linking it to G&T!) Excellent!

    Reply
    • jstults says

      April 11, 2015 at 12:38

      Thanks, Holly! I appreciate your words of encouragement here!
      Jen 🙂

      Reply
  8. Rebeca Jones says

    April 11, 2015 at 22:06

    Beautiful, Jen!

    Reply
    • jstults says

      April 15, 2015 at 22:10

      Thanks, Rebeca! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Dawn says

    March 25, 2018 at 11:04

    It is always such a solemn day of remembrance, yet full of hope for we know that it is truly good!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tomorrow Could Be Too Late – The Joyful Christian Woman says:
    March 22, 2017 at 15:50

    […] The Good News, also called the gospel, is that God desires relationship with us so much that He made a plan for our redemption. He provided a substitute who would pay the price of death for our sin – His one and only son, Jesus Christ, who bled red on the old rugged cross so that we might live! […]

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Jen: a work in progress. I'm imperfect - a mom of four, pastor's wife, discipler, and sinner saved only by grace. I like to sing, read, write, teach, and smile. I have a heart for encouraging women everywhere to understand God's limitless love for them and what His grace means for everyday living. Welcome! :) Read More…

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