I was thinking about…

It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming

By Andy Lee

As a Methodist, Good Friday looms largest on my spiritual calendar each year. This hallowed day devoted to remembering Christ’s unimaginable suffering always leaves me emotionally wrung out yet profoundly grateful.

For my non-Christian friends, Good Friday solemnly commemorates the horrific crucifixion of Jesus on a criminal’s cross at Calvary. We recreate that gut-wrenching narrative of torture, humiliation and ultimate death through somber services and readings. Not exactly the cheeriest subject matter, I know.

But for those of us who follow the Christ, revisiting those agonizing final hours holds immense power and poignancy. See, we believe Jesus embodied God’s own son willingly enduring humanity’s worst cruel indignities. The sinless taking our penalty for sin upon himself out of perfect love.

So for us, Good Friday represents both sin’s catastrophic consequences and the astonishing lengths our Heavenly Father went to make forgiveness and eternal life available. Those unthinkably dark hours culminated in history’s brightest display of sacrificial love.

Good Friday holds a mirror up to ugliness too repulsive to ignore yet too real to avoid any longer. Walking that valley trail toward death’s door alongside the Nazarene’s torturous final steps forces wrestling with evil’s insidious aims in ways normally quarantined behind well-fortified comfort zones.

And listen – that unflinching gaze upon depravity’s true designs never fails wrecking me! How could witnessing perfect innocence suffering in my place not emotionally shatter and mold gratitude deeper? Each Good Friday leaves me both freshly devastated by darkness’s malice while more overwhelmed by Light’s outrageous grace forever outshining.

So no, experiences like this feel anything but “good” in any earthly sense. Yet Good Friday represents the paradox that only by passing through death’s darkest door could Love ultimately to emerge victorious and sin’s futile grip be shattered for good. Only embracing the misery reveals the miracle.

In that way, this day shows suffering’s role as catalyst rather than roadblock toward healing and renewal. Only when we find the courage to “look full in His wonderful face” do we encounter Worth suffering for. The reason Christ calls us to take up our own crosses daily.

So while Good Friday remains heavy, it also centers hope reminding that love always triumphs over hate. That’s worth reflecting upon and rejoicing over despite the solemn path winding there.

Stay fixated, keep sacrificing! ✝️