Learning About Good Friday

Today is Good Friday.  I asked Mommie to explain it to me, because I don't understand why we call today "Good Friday" if it is the day that Jesus died on the cross.  We have this cross in our front yard that my brother Benton built for Mommie last year:

I asked Mommie, "Why does it have that crown of thorns on it, and what does the purple cloth stand for?"

Mommie said that when the angry people wanted Jesus to be hung on that cross they did very mean things to Him.  This is what she read to me from the Bible, from the book of John chapter 19:1-3

"1.  So Pilate then took Jesus and had Him flogged. 2.  And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and placed it on His head, and put a purple cloak on Him; 3.  and they repeatedly came up to Him and said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and slapped Him in the face again and again."

That made me feel very sad. I don't understand why the same people who were waving palm branches and crying "Hosanna!" to Jesus on Sunday are now yelling and screaming for Him to be crucified and are doing such mean and terrible things to Him.

Mommie said that it was because of the sins of all people that Jesus had to die.  He was the only perfect Man who never sinned, because He is God's Son. 

"But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed."

(Isaiah 53:5)

Mommie said that the Bible tells us that all of us have sinned.

 

(Romans 3:23)

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

We've been selfish and have wanted to only have our own way, and not God's way.  And no matter how hard we try, we cannot be perfectly good and sinless. 

"All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."

(Isaiah 53:6)

And so, because God loves us so much, He had to send His own Son to die in our place and take away our sins so that one day we can live in heaven with Him forever.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

I am so glad that Jesus loves us enough that He was willing to suffer so much and die so that one day we can live with Him in heaven.  Mommie said that is our great hope and promise.  Today may be a sad day, but she said we shouldn't forget that "Easter is coming!"

    

And that's the best day of all!!