What can one say that hasn’t been said on this day that is called “Good Friday”? By His death, Jesus became the final and complete sacrifice for our sins. https://bit.ly/34vg8jR. It wasn’t anything we could do.

We don’t hear the word “sin” used much anymore. What is sin? Augustine says: (sin is) a word, deed, or desire in opposition to the eternal law of God.

We know in our hearts we aren’t good. We have bad thoughts, bad motives, and sometimes we act out on those thoughts and motives. We are told all of us have sinned. God cannot look on sin so he gave his only son–who was perfect–to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Most of you know the story of Jesus coming to earth from heaven. He was God who became man in order to live as a man, and then die as a man. But then, he was God because he rose from the dead. Today is the day nearly two thousand years ago that it happened. He was killed for nothing but trumped up accusations.

I enjoy reading lyrics to hymns and the story behind the author of the hymn. Samuel Trevor Francis, born near London, enjoyed writing poetry and later developed a passion for music. As Samuel grew older he struggled spiritually. He knew things weren’t right in his heart. One night, while crossing over the Thames River he felt a terrible loneliness. He cried out to God to have mercy on him. As he looked at the treacherous, dark waters below, he heard a voice tempting him. The voice said, “Make an end of all this misery.” He drew back from the evil thought and another thought came to him, “You do believe in Jesus Christ,” and at that moment, he put his full trust in Christ. After that experience, he wrote the words to this song. To me, the melody–slow and ponderous, matches the words to this song: “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus.” If you don’t know the song, here’s a link to listen to it: enjoy the melody of this song as well as the beautiful lyrics:https://bit.ly/2VldfOi

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!

Rolling as a mighty ocean  In its fullness over me!

Underneath me, all around me, Is the current of Thy love,

Leading onward, leading homeward, To my glorious rest above!

 

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, Love of every love the best!

‘Tis an ocean full of blessing, ‘Tis a haven giving rest!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ‘Tis a heaven of heavens to me,

And it lifts me up to glory, For it lifts me up to Thee! [Samuel Trevor Francis, 1875]

 

This Good Friday is the first time in a long time that I won’t go to church and contemplate what Jesus did for me. But I can do it at home, too. It will be the first Easter that I don’t go to church in celebration of Jesus’ glorious resurrection. But we’ll celebrate it at home as well. I look forward to being with others again to worship corporately.

Today, though, let’s remember the deep, deep love expressed to us this day.

This says it all…..