In John 12, Jesus came into Jerusalem in the days before the Passover riding on a donkey. The people celebrated by laying down branches of palm trees in His path saying, “Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:13 KJV). In Leviticus 23:40, branches of palms were used for rejoicing before the Lord. There are over 300 references in the Old Testament talking about the coming Lord. That is why Jesus repeatedly said that the Scriptures were to be fulfilled. In Psalm 22, King David records some events of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ around six hundred years before it happened. Psalms 2, 62, and 110 tell of the coming Christ. “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psalm 2:12). We have to have faith in the finished work of the cross.
In 2010, my daughter and I drew a large picture of Jesus before our church while musicians played “Amazing Grace.” It was a closeup view of His head hanging after He gave up the Ghost. The people wanted us to share it, so we went to several churches that year drawing our picture. When I read Isaiah 52:14, I now feel like our picture could never have portrayed how severely Jesus the Christ suffered on the cross; “his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:”
From the cross, Christ Jesus forgave us. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). He was speaking to the Roman soldiers who nailed Him to the cross. We all, as fallible human beings, put Him on the cross. But He forgave us right there on the cross. He forgave us of all our sins — past, present, and to come. The Bible records in Psalm 103:11-12, “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
Jesus took the law and “nailed it” to His cross. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Colossians 2:13-15). Jesus gave His life on the cross to be our sacrifice, in our place. The nails could not hold Him on the cross — He is the Son of the Almighty God! Love held Him there. His grace, His salvation is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Good Friday, to me, means I am forgiven of my sins, loved beyond measure, and I have the hope of a home in Heaven when my journey on Earth is done.
(©2021 Sandy Caudill Earp. Please credit “ArtByEarpGraphics.com” when referencing my posts and artwork.)