“‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” (Luke 24:5-7 NKJV)
Jesus predicted everything that would happen to Him. He predicted how He would be betrayed by one of the twelve. He predicted how His disciples would stumble because of what was going to happen to Him that night and how they would desert Him. He predicted how Peter, the Rock, would deny Him. Jesus predicted His death. The things that Jesus predicted were way too heavy for His disciples and it troubled them. Their week of festivities and celebrations was coming fast to an end.
At the beginning of the week everything was wonderful. Their King made His triumphal entry into the city. He was going to overthrow their evil government. Their King was going to establish His kingdom and take His rightful place on His throne. Their King was going to make everything right, and now, He was talking about leaving them! Now, He’s talking about dying. It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. This isn’t how they imagined it. This was supposed to be a time of celebration! This was supposed to be a time of victory! Their King, Son of David, and the One they shouted “Hosanna, Hosanna!” to was supposed to save them.
No, this was not how it was supposed to be. This was supposed to be the week that Jesus would change everything, but now this week was turning into a horrible nightmare.
They came for Jesus with their clubs and their swords, like He was a thief. They laid hands on Him. Jesus could have stopped them, but He didn’t.
“But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?’ In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, ‘Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” (Matt. 26:52-56 NKJV)
They arrested Him and marched Him from judgment hall to judgment hall. They gave false testimony and called false witnesses. They spat in His face. They slapped Him and beat Him. They ridiculed Him. They yelled, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!!” With a crown of thorns around His head, He carried His cross up a hill called Golgotha. They nailed Him to a cross and He hung there. He died between two thieves. They pierced Him in His side and immediately blood and water came running down (John 19). He was placed in a tomb that was not His own. The King was dead, and dread and gloom surrounded the disciples.
But the disciples had it all wrong. They thought all was lost. They thought all their hopes and dreams had vanished. They had it all wrong. Jesus was and is the true King. Jesus did make all things right. Jesus had to fulfill the scriptures so that the human race could be brought back to God. Jesus had to die and be buried in the grave. But that’s not how the story ends. Praise God!
On the third day, Jesus got up! On the third day, the tomb was empty! Jesus took off His grave clothes, folded them neatly in the tomb, and arose from the dead. Jesus conquered Hell and the grave. The disciples bad Friday turned into something wonderful. Their sorrows turned into joy! Jesus came and changed everything!
Today, we celebrate Good Friday. He accomplished everything He said He would. Jesus is alive! He’s not dead. We now have victory. Now, we can really celebrate. Now, our sorrow has turned into joy. All that was wrong, Jesus made right. Jesus came to save us and unite us back to God.
Believers, celebrate with me! It’s Good Friday! Jesus is alive! He reigns in Majesty. In Power. In Wisdom. In Honor, and in Glory. Let the celebrations go on and on and on!
Happy Good Friday!!
REFLECTION
“‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” (Luke 24:5-7 NKJV)
Encouraging You to Walk in Freedom! ™
Rhovonda L. Brown is speaker and author of two bestsellers, Walking in Freedom!: A Thirty-Day Devotional Journey for Women and At Least Say, “Thank You!”: An 8-Day Devotional Plan for a Grateful Heart.
Copyright ©2010-2016. Rhovonda L. Brown. All Rights Reserved.
*COMING SOON! Soon you’ll be able to enjoy Rhovonda’s tribute to Easter ebook.