Good Friday

www.EasTview.org
Pastor Dave Ens

Today is a paradox an irony. A dark day when we celebrate a death. In darkness we face the darkness in our own souls. This is a good day of hope. The symbol of God's love is the cross. The cross is where God comes to meet us.
Bring peace in the darkness.
Luke 22:39-42 The mount of olives the Garden of Gethsemane.
Matthew 26:36 NLT

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go over there to pray."
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

John 19:1 NLT

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip.

They crucified Jesus with the criminals.
Luke 23:46 NLT

Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last.

I come to the cross where you died in my place seeking mercy and grace. You called me by name. Jesus, I come.

http://www.introducingjesus.org/inj007cross.htm

Jesus did this deliberately. He knew exactly what was happening. To make things right between us and God. We remember his death knowing God knows beyond our understanding.

Eternal God, in whom we live and have our being.

The disciples must have felt alone.  The man they spent the last 3 years with was taken away without a fight. Left alone. Purposeless. Dark day. Good because we are reminded that God has not left us alone. He finds us wherever we are. God takes on the powers of darkness. His love for us is profound.

Allow yourself to sit and meet God at the cross. God will meet you in the darkness.

We know this is a true story. A 1st century fiction writer would never have invented a story where women were the first to meet the crucified founder.