Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

We are celebrating the day that Jesus who is the Messiah of the Jews died over two thousand years ago. The question is why is it considered a good day? Three men were executed by the most gruesome method known to modern man. This is a day that should be considered evil.

Thursday night ended with a moving Passover meal for Christ and his twelve closest followers. Their mentor showed them how to be servants to each other. All the current traditions were observed. The wine was shared as was the bread. Prayers were given. Music was shared. It was both fellowship and worship.

Friday morning begins with a series of trials. The Sanhedrin retried our Lord until He made a statement that is considered blasphemy and the court determines that His sentence should be death by crucifixion. These educated lawmen do not realize that they have sentenced Jesus to a death that matches what the prophets recorded hundreds of years ago.

The trials continue before Pilot and Herod. The sentence is ordered to be carried out. Pilot washes his hands. Three men march out to be hung on crosses until they are dead. It will be a slow terrible death. They will tire from the efforts to pull themselves up to breathe until they suffocate.

Over the next several hours’ Christ’s companions argue with each other to decide why they will die with a man they never knew until this day. The man they called Bar Abbas has been released. The Son of the Father will live to fight another day. They will not.

One accepts the offer of the savior. The other does not. They both die agonizing deaths. They are preceded in death by my Lord and Savior. He spoke little during the trials and the crucifixion. His last words were, “It is finished.”

It is the plan of the Father to save humanity from its own sinfulness. It started with Adam and ended with Jesus. Paul calls him the second Adam.

We refer to the Friday before Resurrection Sunday as Good Friday because of the result of the weekend. The tragic incidents of passion week were worth the lamb that was slain for the sin of the world. His life for those of an entire race of people. Science Fiction is not the only book where the Earth is saved. Happy Resurrection Sunday.

©Copyright 2023 by Charles Kensinger