It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming. Those three words, “but Sunday’s coming,” show the power of how our world was forever changed some 2000 or so years ago. The weight of Good Friday brings tears to my eyes as I sit here and read the prayer Jesus prayed in the garden the night before he was crucified.
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation. — Luke 22:39–46
“Father, if you are willing…” Those are words that I am sure we have all asked God at many points in our lives. The difference: how many of us follow in what God is leading us to when we speak those words? Jesus knew that is was God’s will being done as he put himself on that cross. He knew that he was the perfect sacrifice for this fallen world, and that God would be faithful to him through it all. I know that, more often than not, I find myself in the shoes of the disciples, falling asleep instead of being prayerful so that I will not fall into temptation. I pray that I could have just a fraction of the obedience Jesus had during what he knew was his last night on Earth.
Jesus’ death and resurrection is the perfect example of God’s faithfulness to us through it all. He sent his own son to die on the cross, be buried and raised three days later to put the final nail in the coffin over sin and death. We no longer have to live in the agony of defeat, we know that Jesus paid the ultimate price for all of our failures, past, present and future!
As we move into the weekend of Easter, let’s remember why we celebrate on Sunday. Sunday is the reason we are no longer slaves. We no longer have to live with the weight of sin on our shoulders, but we do have to know and trust that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for these things.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
— Romans 10:9–10
Confession with your mouth and belief in your heart is the way to celebrate our own passing from death to life.
It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.