Good Friday!

For Friday, March 29, 2024:

Mark 15:39 NLT: “When the Roman centurion who stood facing Jesus heard his cry and saw how he had died, he exclaimed, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’”

Today we celebrate Good Friday, honoring the day our Savior was mocked, beaten and murdered. He gave it all for mankind, so our sins could be forgiven – blotted out, wiped away, as if sin had never occurred. And now sinless, we could join the heavenly multitude. Remember, God’s desire is that all would repent and return, and join him in the hereafter.

On the cross, Jesus shouted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Enough had gone wrong and Jesus was about to die! It’s easy to understand Jesus’ perception that God had removed his hand of protection from his Son. But God had not abandoned him.

All the sins of the world had been piled on Jesus, and he was to take sin to Sheol, the place of the dead, thereby leaving believers pure and innocent, suitable to take up residence with God Almighty! From Sheol, Jesus would be resurrected, given a life after this life, and eventually ascend into heaven. God had not abandoned his Son! Sin and death were conquered at the same time! Our job is to accept the grace of God, to accept the forgiveness, the new life, and have faith that Jesus’ promises to us are true!

I’m always amazed at the speed with which these events took place. It all started after supper on Thursday night, and ended at 3pm on Friday, not even 24 hours! It must have been a whirlwind of activity. Six trials, the beatings and mocking, then up the hill, on the cross and Jesus soon gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ body would need to be taken down quickly, as Shabbat started at sundown, and then no more work could be done.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Why have you forsaken me?

November 15, 2010 Monday Message:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus spoke these words from the cross during the final moments of his earthly life. But what you may not remember is that he was quoting King David, a man after God’s own heart, from Psalm 22:1a.

David prayed these words when his son Absalom, through lies and deceit, took over the throne of Israel. David found himself exiled from his own country, the country where he rightfully should have still been king. And yet Absalom was his son; David didn’t want to have to kill his own son to regain the throne. But Absalom was at the heart of the conspiracy. How could David reconcile this tension? How could things have gotten so messed up? Where was God when everything seemed to turn against David?

I believe the entire Bible is true, inspired words given to us by God. But as we read God’s word, it’s important to consider context and perception. The truth in this verse is that David felt alone. So much had been going wrong in his life for so long, that David truly felt abandoned. He hadn’t given up on God, but David felt far from God at that time. On the cross, bearing the sins of the world, Jesus felt far from the Father too. That was their perception.

So where did God go? The truth is that God is omnipresent; God is everywhere at all times. So God doesn’t go away. God doesn’t play tricks and try to hide from David, and God didn’t abandon his Son on the cross. God is always there, right where He’s always been. It’s us, you and I, who, in times of trouble, often turn away from God. When things go well it’s easy to sense the presence of God. When things don’t go well, we need realign ourselves, focusing on the Lord with extra diligence. We need to turn and face the light. And for us, Jesus is the light of the world.

God will always be right there when we need him, right where he’s supposed to be. That’s what the Bible says.

Norton Lawellin