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Holy Friday: April 10th, 2015


Today is Holy Friday or Good Friday for the Orthodox Church. Recently a teacher was sharing a very interesting perspective on Christ's Passion. The teacher said, "On Palm Sunday, when Jesus arrived on a colt/donkey in Jerusalem, the people were shouting Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest! They laid down their coats before Him, which was what the Israelites did for their king. The Israelite had gotten such a specific Scriptural formula for how the Messiah was suppose to come and what he was suppose to do: kick out the Romans and sit upon David's Throne and make Israel the Kingdom of the World again, that when Jesus showed them this was not what was going to happen first, that He was God incarnate, meant to suffer slaughter for the sins of man, they rejected him and the same people shouting Hosanna and welcoming Jesus as King, were next week shouting "Crucify Him!" (Teacher).

The teacher went on to say, "we must be careful to not to get in are heads just how Jesus should return, that we suffer the same fate as Pharisees and Israelites who rejected Jesus because He did not come in the way they wanted Him to come." (Teacher). This is convicting. So often we get concepts and ideas on how God should do something or is going to do something. I think about those Jews in Jesus' Day who were so dogmatic about their belief of how the messiah was suppose to come and what He was suppose to do that they missed Him and missed the chance of salvation.

For Jews and Gentiles alike who believe in Jesus Christ as Messiah, Savior, Bridegroom, Savior, and Lord, Holy Friday is the quintessential moment when Jesus paid for our sins on the cross. It the centerpiece of the salvic moment, when God's love is demonstrated to the zenith! His blood dripped down to cover darkness of our wickedness that casted a shadow of separation between man and God. Now the veil has been torn and we can directly connect, relate, and be with God our Savior! We should celebrate that salvation has been achieved! That Christ bought us and paid for our evil ways! We are cleanse by His Blood and "Grafted into the Family of God." ().

I am going to use this opportunity to share the gospel. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. All creation is covered in sin (a disease of sorts, the wicked and bad ways in all people). God rather than expecting us to be perfect, to do good works, and still fail to meet his guidelines for holiness and righteousness decided to come and die for our sins; to satisfy His own requirements and exchange his holiness and righteous to us if we believe in Jesus Christ. It is here where the Gospel differs from all other messages out there! Other religions have you doing the work and trying to get to a god, but Christ is God coming down to us and doing the work for us! All you are required to do is repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Then "it is finished." Salvation is a free gift from God, all you have to say is "I accept it." Then you become part of the family of God, God himself comes and dwells inside of you! Think about that! Allah, Zeus, Vishnu, Oiden, and other gods don't come and dwell in their followers; because those followers aren't worthy! But Jesus has made you worthy with his blood! While other gods want you to be wicked and appease their childlike tempers; Christ Jesus loves you unconditionally and long as you believe (trust) in Him daily, you need never fear anything. You are guaranteed heaven, but also a life in connection with God!

So take this invitation to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior! Decide right now to believe/have faith/trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. He died for you personally. He loves you without conditions and wants you to experience connection and communion with Him! Decide now! The hour is late and the End is coming. Do not wait for Judgment, for then it shall be too late. But choose to trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior now!

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