Sain Publications
The Most Important “BLACK FRIDAY”
Our world around us becomes consumed in “Black Friday” (the Friday after Thanksgiving) and taking advantage of the bargains and getting the latest and greatest. These too will soon pass. But there was ONE BLACK FRIDAY that we must not forget; we should keep it ever before our minds; and always remember its tragedy and triumph.
JESUS CAME TO SAVE MAN. The physician Luke says that the Son of God came to “seek and save the lost” (19:10). What love was demonstrated by God the Father to send His Son (John 3:16) and what indescribable love of Jesus to die in our place (1 Peter 1:18-19).
THEY LOVED HIM / THEN HATED HIM. Oh how the crowds loved Him at the beginning of His earthly ministry. They followed Him to hear His every word and to see His marvelous works. But soon things changed. Fear, pride, envy and whatever additional reasons prompted the mob to cry out for His death.
THE BLACK FRIDAY. On that tragic day, a chosen disciple betrayed the Son of God with a hypocritical gesture of affection. From the Garden of Gethsemane the mob took Jesus to appear before Pilate and Herod. So many laws were broken over the next few hours, in so-called trials. Many Jews, scribes and Pharisees were so DETERMINED to kill Jesus of Nazareth (who had gone about doing good (Acts 10:38). Though Pilate saw no fault in Him, he released Jesus to the mob to be crucified.
On that BLACK FRIDAY, the Roman soldiers scourged Him. On that BLACK FRIDAY, they made Jesus carry His cross up Calvary’s hill. On that BLACK FRIDAY, they nailed Him to the cross. On that BLACK FRIDAY, Jesus hung on the cross for six unfathomable painful hours while the mob laughed, mocked and taunted Him. On that BLACK FRIDAY God allowed His Son to die, to be the atonement for our sins. Finally, on that BLACK FRIDAY, Jesus uttered the words, “It is finished!” and died.
While that BLACK FRIDAY was tragic since the pure and sinless Son of God died because of our sins – yet, with mixed emotions, we must always be thankful, grateful and indebted to our Saviour for making salvation possible. Hebrews 9:22, “without the shedding of blood there would be no remission of sins.”
Because Jesus suffered and died – we can be reconciled to our Father. Because of His immeasurable love – we can be forgiven of our transgressions. Because of the old rugged cross – we can live forever in heaven (if we obey and faithfully follow our Saviour).
O how I love Jesus!
