From the Edges – A View of Good Friday –

From the Edges – Morning Devotions
Pastor Calvin Cook
Lent – Good Friday
Luke 23:44-49 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. (ESV)

On this morning of remembrance, I am drawn to the words of the Gospel of Luke with respect and awe of the Crucifixion of Christ. Luke 23:44-49 describe the ending of the agony of Jesus as he surrenders his Spirit into the hands of the Father. With a pause the whole world would shake, the temple curtain is torn, and sacrifice of Christ seems to be completed.

However, this is one of the times we can say “but wait there is more”. There is much more, read through Luke 23:44-49 and notice the confession of the Centurian “certainly this man was innocent”! After his watchful state to make sure that everything was carried out to the highest letter of the law, he realizes that truly Jesus was who he said he was. Notice the words of verse 48 – that even the crowds were moved, and mournful and sad and leaving Golgotha changed.

Where are we in this picture? How do we respond? How will our life be different from this day forward because we have been deeply moved by the story? When will we finally get it? Maybe today is that day that we will finally be affected in a way that cause total surrender to this itinerant preacher teacher who came to earth, so that we might know, understand, and experience more of what God is desiring for each and every one of us.

Maybe today we will hear the words Jesus speaks to us to come to the one who will lift our burdens, show us a better way, provide abundant grace that will save us from ourselves and from the evil.
that is experienced in the world around us. But it doesn’t just happen because we are worthy, it happens because of the great sacrifice, the sacrifice like no other to provide a better way through this life and into the next.

The events on that hill caused the Centurian to worship. Maybe today we will find the same desire, to risk it all, to lay aside that which is important to us and with all our heart, surrender to the Lord and be changed and conformed to be the example of Christ.