Good Friday

"and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[a] through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— "   Romans 3:24-25

"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.'"     - John 11:25-26

Take with you the joy of Easter to the home, and make that home bright with more unselfish love, more hearty service; take it into your work, and do all in the name of the Lord Jesus; take it to your heart, and let that heart rise anew on Easter wings to a higher, a gladder, a fuller life; take it to the dear grave-side and say there the two words "Jesus lives!" and find in them the secret of calm expectation, the hope of eternal reunion. -----John Ellerton

Good Friday is a solemn day for me.  It's a quiet day.  It's a time that I reflect on the sacrifice that God made for me and for you.  Without this day, we could not so joyously celebrate on Easter morning.  In my heart, Good Friday and Easter morning hold two completely different emotions.  I'm reflective, even sad for Jesus today.  But Sunday morning, my heart will be full of rejoicing.

My prayer today is that I will teach my children the significance of this Holy Week.  That they will learn that Easter is not about eggs, chocolate and bunnies, but the redeeming salvation of Jesus.  As parents, this should be one of our greatest honors and priorities.