Good Friday

Is not good Friday a strange name? No other religions can call the day their lord dies "good". But it is so good to us. Today, and every day, we celebrate the death of our Lord and our God. Jesus Christ, humble in human flesh, bleeding and disgraced, died on the cross. He have himself for our sins; He lived perfectly and died that we might take part in his inheritance. We are heirs with him because He has imparted his righteousness on us. What else do we need to call it Good Friday?

I have been praying specifically that God would allow me to understand more his steadfast and deep love for his children. And, thankfully God has opened my eyes in many ways to the depth of his love. This is what Paul prays for us in Ephesians 3- that we would have the "strength to comprehend with all the saints...the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge." The strength? Isn't is odd that this requires strength? To comprehend something that surpasses knowledge? How can we? I think that Paul is showing us that we never will. For all eternity we will be comprehending, never wholly understanding, but forever in awe of Christ's unfailing and holy love.


Here is an old hymn (1700's) by Isaac Watts:

Alas and did my savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?

Was it for sins that I have done
He suffered on the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut His glory in
When Christ, the great Redeemer died
For man the creature's sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
'Tis all that I can do.