Good Friday

An historic day.

For Christians, it’s a day when Jesus Christ suffered mightily on the cross, took the sins of the world on his shoulders, and died a horrendous death. On the third day, Easter Sunday, his tomb, guarded by Roman soldiers, was empty, and the world today is left to decide what became of his body.

But on these points, we can be certain—he existed and died. How can we be so sure? In addition to the Gospel accounts, and hundreds of eyewitnesses at the time, we have the writings of Flavius Josephus/Jewish Priest, Scholar, Historian of 1st Century Judea. And a Roman.

“Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again on the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.” - The Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3. Completed by Josephus in 93 CE.

Prophetic scriptures foretold of Jesus’s crucifixion in Psalm 22:1-2. 16, 18-9, more than six centuries before that day:

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief…My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet…they divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing. O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!”

Isaiah 53, written 100 years before that Psalm, goes even further in describing the coming Messiah and his sacrifice. Fascinating when evaluating Messianic prophesies.

In the U.S., Christians and Jews, Muslims and Hindus, secular humanists and everyone in between will herald Easter as the much anticipated corridor between winter and spring. From death to life, from darkness to sunshine. For so many kids, a time of Easter egg hunts and chocolate candy.

HAPPY EASTER, HOWEVER YOU CELEBRATE THE DAY!!!