Good Friday, Really?

Mike asked Tanya, “Was it really a Good Friday”? Tanya was instantly annoyed by the question, because Mike was known to make light of serious situations. Tanya didn’t know how to respond, she wanted to react. She didn’t know how others felt about what Christ did for the world, but she knew how she felt about what Christ did for her. And Mike’s question made her angry. Mike continued saying, “I’m surprised that you aren’t upset about an innocent man being killed by the ‘system’.”  He was smirking. “Jesus, was Black, right? I mean you and your friends should be out with Black Lives Matter signs on Good Friday but instead y’all are celebrating the death of an innocent man.”  By now, Mike was in full chuckle, his blue eyes and blonde curls danced with each chuckle. Tanya was turning red as her blood boiled, she thought, “is he joking about my Lord’s sacrifice?” Lord, help me to represent You well, she prayed. At the same time Mike’s wife told him to stop joking all the time.

Tanya decided she could crash out on Mike, ignore him or educate him. She wasn’t the same person she was 5 years ago before she gave her life to Christ. She no longer had to be controlled by anger, but she struggled in this area. With another quick prayer and deep breath, she answered, “Well, I believe Jesus was Middle Eastern and of Jewish descent, not Black. And although you may not think that Friday many, many moons ago was Good, it was. The death of Christ not only reconciled man to God it offered eternal life to believers. Mike, not as jovial, now said, “So it is Good for the world, but not Jesus. He was crucified and committed no crime. The people, His people, even choose Him to die over a murderer (Mark 15: 12-15). Doesn’t sound like a Good Friday.” Tanya was surprised at how much Mike knew about the crucifixion of Jesus, but she didn’t believe he was a believer.

Tanya explained what Christ did was indeed a sacrifice, that He willingly took on the sins of man, the shame of sin, and the punishment of sin (2 Corinthians 5:21). The Bible says that "the cost of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ” (Romans 6:23). What made it Good was that Christ was pleasing the Father and fulfilling prophecy. She encouraged Mike to read Isaiah 53, and she returned to her desk. Once there she whispered a short prayer, “Thank you, Lord.”

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for restraint when responding to non-believers. Thank You for the confidence to stand up for You. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that guides us, but more than anything, thank You for Your Son, Jesus the Christ who died for our sins. It was indeed a Good Friday when Jesus willingly took the sins of man, the sin of the world on His shoulders.  Lord, we love You, appreciate You, and adore You. In Jesus name, Amen.
By Sis. Patricia Towns