I’m looking forward to a beautiful Easter service day after tomorrow. But today, it is Friday. Good Friday and I’m going to focus on this day.

I grew up in a Christian home where we heard about Jesus often. We were in church at least three times a week. But I don’t remember attending many Good Friday services. Easter or I like to say, Resurrection Sunday, was always special with ruffled dresses, new patent leather shoes, and sometimes, white gloves. But more than that, we celebrated He was risen!

Jim and I make a point to attend a Good Friday service and during Holy Week, we often choose a movie portraying the event that changed the world. God, in the form of a human being, Jesus, sacrificed Himself for us. For our sins.

On Sunday morning, He rose from the dead. Did you hear that? From the dead. No one else could do that. That is amazing. Just as the One who did this was Amazing.

I’m playing my violin Sunday, and last night we had a rehearsal at church. Jim watched The Passion, by himself at home. The movie wasn’t quite over when I walked into the house and saw the scene of Jesus, badly beaten on the cross. His face and body were covered with lash marks. The crown of thorns pressed down on His brow. It was dreadful. Worse than the beatings, though, were the weight of the sins of the past and present that were on His shoulders. He even–though He was God–cried out to the Father. It was almost too much to bear. As I watched the conclusion–they carefully washed His body and wrapped it in a shroud. You know later what happens on the third day, but today, I’m focusing on this day. Good Friday. I’m reminded of a song sung many times in my youth, but I haven’t sung it for years. I think the words will be appropriate right now:

On a hill, faraway/ Stood an old rugged cross; 

The emblem of suffering and shame.

And I love that old cross/Where the dearest and best,

For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,/Til my trophies at last I lay down;

I will cling to the old rugged cross,

And exchange it some day for a crown. (George Bennard, 1873-1958).

Today, as we contemplate what our Lord did for us, let’s remember the sacrifice He made. Yes, He rose three days later, but this day, he died on the cross.

Last week, I sent a newsletter that included a true story. In the story, I tell how after watching a tragic accident, I came home and nuzzled my baby boy, grateful for his life. That boy is now a man who flies like an eagle in the high skies, put together one of his flights with his flying partner, a beautiful rendition of a song, Easter Hallelujah. Please take the time to watch and listen to the song, You will be blessed. An Easter Hallelujah.

And now, until Sunday, let’s remember.