Today is Good Friday, and we’re back in the gospel of Matthew again. Today’s post will focus solely on the verses in today’s reading that point to the events in Christ’s life we remember today… the scourging, humiliation, and brutal crucifixion resulting in our Savior’s death… and the just payment for the sin of all men that choose to accept Him as Lord and commit their lives to following Him.
Matthew 17:22-23 (NIV)
22When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
In this verse, Jesus predicts his death and resurrection. The reaction of the disciples? Grief.
While I can imagine their shock at the news that Jesus would be betrayed and killed, I wonder how they totally seemed to miss His statement that He will be raised to life again on the third day? I’d like to think my reaction would have been more of confusion than sadness.
Of course, we have the advantage of knowing the rest of the story.
I wonder, have you reflected upon the events of Good Friday yet today? Are you broken by the fact that it’s OUR sin that necessitated these things of Jesus? The brutal scourging and beating… the struggle to even carry the cross… the nails being driven through His hands and feet… the people cursing and spitting on Him. Such humiliation and degradation…
Can you even begin to imagine Christ’s pain and agony? Do you dare to try?
Or is the simple fact of fault too much to bear?
Our sin brought the nails… the beatings… the humiliation… the degradation… the spitting… the cursing… the suffering.
And ultimately, our Savior’s death.
How do you respond?
Matthew 18:21-35 (NIV)
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’
30“But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
Such an applicable parable to consider as we’re pondering how we respond to the crucifixion of Christ.
Our debt far exceeded that of the unmerciful servant… 10,000 talents? While a tremendous amount of money… it’s nothing compared to the debt of our sin.
Yet Jesus willingly endured the cross for us to cancel our debts and set us free.
How do you respond?
With joy? Thanksgiving? By extending grace to others? Dancing or singing His praise? Expression of your love for Christ?
Or do you react with disdain? Oh, maybe not consciously… but by the way you live, do you demonstrate that the sacrifice Jesus made for you really just isn’t all that important?
This is the challenge of Good Friday. How do we reflect upon and respond to the death of Christ?
Such a horrific day, yet one that enabled such amazing privileges for us. Forgiveness. Grace. A right relationship with God. Eternal life.
If you’re response is anything but sorrow over your sin and thanksgiving for God’s grace… please, please, please. Get real with God tonight, and ask Him to help you have the proper response to His greatest gift.
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