Where is the goodness of Good Friday in a cruel cross?
It is evidenced in our salvation from sin.
If we took the time to list out all our sins individually it would take us all day [correction: more than a lifetime]. But here’s a short list of our sins in which Paul reminds us of why we need God’s goodness of salvation through Jesus’ cruel cross remembered on this Good Friday:
Sexual immorality, idolatry, adultery, homosexuality, theft, greed, drunkenness, reviling, swindling, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking…
(1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Ephesians 4:31-5:5).
The list could go on.
And so here is the good news on this Good Friday, in the words of Paul.
And such were some of you.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV)
And…
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ… and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby the hostility. Ephesians 2:13,16 (ESV)
To read more about God’s goodness in this cruel cross, here are Gospel accounts to read.
Matthew 27:1-66
Mark 15:1-47
Luke 23:1-56
John 18:28-19:42
Other resource links for Good Friday contemplation in family worship…
At Ligonier, they speak of the grace of God to his people in the midst of the “striking of the Shepherd.
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/shepherd-struck/
Again, at Ligonier, R. C. Sproul, Sr. offers an explanation of two important Good Friday words: expiation and propitiation.
https://www.ligonier.org/blog/two-important-words-good-friday-expiation-and-propitiation/
Over at The Apollos Project, Chap Bettis offers some child-like helps to explain Good Friday as he illustrates this with the two thieves next to Jesus.
https://www.theapollosproject.com/teaching-children-the-substitutionary-atonement-based-on-luke-23/
Home in the graveyard and dance in the cemetery? What is this all about from Pastor Toby Sumpter? Check out a Good Friday message that teaches us how the terror of Good Friday now gives us ability to be bold in our Christian lives.
http://www.tobyjsumpter.com/our-jesus-holds-the-keys-good-friday-2014/
What is the Lord teaching you on the historic day, Good Friday?
What resources would you share to help explain the cross for family discipleship?
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