The day Jesus was crucified on the cross for our sins.
This week has been the first Holy Week that I have ever experienced in my life. Never knowing what these days off on the calendar meant and the true definitions of Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, Jesus certainly welcomed me with open arms this week and has been with me constantly.
Celebrating my 33rd birthday yesterday brought in many emotions. The feeling of being re-born in Christ was prominent and I was humbled and honored to somehow share a special day with the one who saved us all.
I knew starting this blog would be essential in my newly growing relationship with Jesus and I want you to know that by you reading my words has been a prayer answered for me.
You are a prayer answered.
Jesus told me to do it and that's why I am here.
What does Good Friday mean to you? Is it just another day off of school or work on the calendar?
For me it was.
I never knew the sacrifice that took place on this day and how eventually, someday, it would be a day of great meaning to me.
The ridicule, the beatings, the torture Jesus went through so we all could have life after death. So our sins could be forgiven IF we repent to the Lord Jesus Christ.
As the words were written:
John 19:17
The Crucifixion
So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."
Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."
When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says,
"They divided my garments among
them,
and for my clothing they cast lots."
So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
The Death of Jesus
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Reading the Scripture, almost feeling the anguish, I'm brought to tears everyday. For Jesus to have suffered the way he did and for our Heavenly Father to sacrifice His Only Son in hopes that we all will repent to Jesus and be saved to have eternal life leaves me speechless and my prayers lead me to hoping you know Jesus loves you and is waiting for you. No matter how sinful you are, the mistakes you've made, what you have done yesterday, it doesn't matter today. Trust in the Lord Jesus and truly repent for your sins. Fulfill the purpose God has here for you while we live on earth until the day of our eternal rest with our Savior.
As my Pastor told me last week after I had shared my story of meeting Jesus with the congregation..
"Your story has just begun."
And it has and I am here as living proof through Jesus that he has saved me from the life I was living and has instructed me to share God's Word in hopes of encouraging you to live through Him.
Thank you.!