Friday 10 April 2020

Good Friday

Scripture:  Matthew 27 v 1 - 5: "When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:
2  And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3  Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."

Today is the memorial of a tragic day when the world killed the Son of God, but its called Good Friday because it was the fulfilment of God's plan to save mankind.

That the betrayer of Jesus found his conscience and had remorse, and tried to reverse the judgment of death, was commendable, however he could not live with the consequences of his actions.  Before Jesus was scourged, Judas was dead by his own hand.

Jesus knew in the Garden of Gethsemane what He had to go through to save the world, even for them that had plotted His death.  He had to conquer the only power that created a barrier between the world and His Father.  Sin.

The world has turned every type of sin into fun and games.  Has turned a blind eye to the grossest offences.  Jesus died for them all.  He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

And all over the world this Good Friday people are publicly and privately crying out to God for forgiveness and salvation because our planet is in the grip of a pandemic of Biblical proportions.  Lockdown is continuing and our world has changed.

All our holiday, Olympic, sport and recreation plans have been scrapped.  Business, finance, jobs and lives are at a standstill because we have been invaded by an alien army without any warning to prepare for battle against it.

However, Jesus did warn us that when the world had become like Sodom and Gomorrah, and like the days of Noah, He would be at the door.  He always knew He would return to Earth, that He would rise from the tomb, ascend into Heaven.

And He said that before He returned there would be plagues, climate change, heart disease, earthquakes, all bigger and worse than before.  But the world only listens to scientists, professors, politicians and their astrological charts.  The Bible and the King of Kings is not of any consequence.

Therefore, they have no answer, but out in the streets at safe social distancing, many have come to cry out to God this week called Holy Week.  All of Heaven is rejoicing over every repentant sinner.  The Lambs Book of Life is getting bigger every day.

This Good Friday we are seeing the stirrings of the world revival inspired by the Holy Spirit.  This makes it better than good for me!  It's the best Friday ever when the world Jesus died for is turned upside down and shaken so that the sinners get saved by the Blood of Jesus.

If a pandemic is what it takes to shake us from lethargy, if even greater trials beset this world, there is joy when another name is added to the roll up yonder.  God wants sinners saved and He is in a hurry.
This Good Friday is the best day to do this!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, we are commanded to preach the gospel to every person, to shout the name of Jesus from the rooftops.  Now that concert and sports fans are quiet, may our shouts be heard!
In Jesus' name.  Amen.