Do you know about the day that changed everything? The day of irrefutable miracles? The day of incredible sacrifice? The day of indescribable love? The day of heavenly redemption? A day of forgiveness that cannot be repaid? The day of divine resurrection?
Beloved, that day is Good Friday. It is a day that changed the world. The day that Jesus died on the cross. He died for you. He died for me. He died for anyone who will accept Him as their Savior, the one true Son of God, and our only salvation. There was no other way that we could have a relationship with God.
They crucified Him …
And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
John 19:17–18
God’s Son, Jesus, was sacrificed to pay the debt of our sins. This day is the day God showed His indescribable love for us.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Beloved, Christ died in our place, washing away our sins, and offering us the greatest gift of all–salvation.
We see five significant events that took place on that day:
Darkness covered the earth: And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour (Mark 15:33).
The veil was torn: And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom …(Matthew 27:51).
There was an earthquake: … and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent (Matthew 27:51).
Dead raised: And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many (Matthew 27:52-53).
Multiple salvations: Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God(Matthew 27:54).
Beloved, on this day, in this hour, Jesus was revealed as the Son of God. Both secular historians and sources outside of the Bible confirm that this darkness actually did take place. There actually was an incredible, unexplained earthquake. Thallus, who wrote a history of the Eastern Mediterranean world said, “On the whole world there pressed a most fearful darkness; and the rocks were rent by an earthquake, and many places in Judea and other districts were thrown down. This darkness appears to me without reason.” (ref: The Historical Jesus, Gary Habermus, pp. 196-197)
History records that the veil of the Temple that covered the entrance of the Holy of Holies was about 60 feet tall and up to 4 inches thick. This would have made it impossible for a person to tear it in two. Yet, at the very moment that Jesus took His last breath, it tore in two. This miracle of God signified that He had opened the door for us to come in, and have a relationship with Him.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
I Peter 3:18
The Scriptures tell us that many people witnessed as graves opened up and the saints rose from the dead. This gives witness to Jesus’ victory over death. It confirms that Christ has conquered sin and that God brought to life what was dead to fulfill His purposes.
The final significant event of this day was that the centurions (perhaps the ones that drove the nails into Christ’s hands?) were terrified, and realized that Jesus was exactly who He said He was: God’s Son, Messiah, Savior, Lord, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God. It was then that they realized their sin, and professed Christ as the Son of God.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:9
Beloved, when Jesus died on the cross to redeem us, He did it out of pure love for us. He had done nothing wrong, committed no crime, and performed no sin. His grace is so mighty, that all He asks is that we believe on Him. He was sacrificed, died, and rose again so that we could live eternally and escape separation from God. We see, in the above significant events, the irrefutable proof that Jesus lives and wants us to accept salvation through His sacrifice.
Say this faith declaration out loud: Dear God, I know that I am sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son and that He died to pay for my sins. I believe that You raised Him from the dead and that I can have eternal life because of His sacrifice. Please forgive me of my sins, come into my heart, and be Lord of my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.