I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung over at our Five Minute Friday website. Today’s word prompt is “settle” We would love to have you join us.
It’s the day of grief; Good Friday. (But really what’s so good about today?) It is the day that Jesus is turned over to the Roman officials. It is the day Jesus says, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” It is the day Jesus breathes his last.
Friends, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be here. There has been so much brokenness and sadness and grief along this Lenten journey. Yet that is exactly why I; why we need to be here. We need to stand at the foot of the cross watching as Jesus gives our life for ours.
We need to stand here mourning, letting the salty tears fall from our eyes. Salty tears that we can taste and see and feel along our faces. Salty tears that remind us of who and whose we are; beautiful beloved children of God, called and claimed by God.
The truth is we may know the end of this story, but we can’t have Easter without journeying through Goood Friday. For three days, we must stand at the foot of the cross, waiting and watching as our Lord is crucified. Easter will come, but not before we grieve and find ourselves trembling at the foot of the cross.
“Where, you there when they crucified our Lord? Where, you there when they laid him in the tomb? Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.”
I need to be here today, at the foot of the cross. Because Jesus didn’t settle for me; for us. He gave his life for us and knew that God would have the last word. Death would not have the final word, God would!
Beautiful post, Tara…and exactly the right music. Bless you, my dear and wise friend. Bless you.
Thank You! Bless you too friend!
Good Friday is not easy but as you say, we need it to get to Easter! Easter blessings!
Exactly! Easter Blessings to you too!
For me, the cross represents reconciliation–vertically between God and me, and horizontally between me and others.
Ooh I like that!
Liked this sentiment that Jesus didn’t settle for us but fought the good fight for us instead. Thanks for the reminder of this on Good Friday! Your FMF neighbor #13
You are welcome!
wow, so beautiful and so true! thank you!
Thanks! And You’re welcome!
Yes and yes! It’s so good when we don’t gloss over the pain of Good Friday in the rush to embrace Resurrection Sunday…
Exactly!
so true tara:) Good Friday was only good b/c of the fact that Jesus paid for our sin. but it wasn’t until Easter sunday that people really understood what happened! the fact that He rose from the dead showed us that He won over sin and death. awesome:) i’m at #25 today:)
Exactly!
Well expressed. Jesus is risen indeed!
He has risen indeed! Alleluia!
Oh yes… to all of this, friend! He is Risen… He is Risen indeed!
I thought you might like this! xoxo
You’re so right Tara! We need to recognize the darkness of Jesus’ crucifixion on Friday so we can experience the Hallelujah on Sunday! Happy Easter, Cindy
Exactly! Happy Easter to you too!
The foot of the cross – yes. I needed to read this today!
I am glad my words blessed you friend!
I’m so glad death did not have the final word. Praise God for the resurrection! Blessings to you, Tara!
Me too, me too! Blessings to you too friend!
“I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be here…….I need to be here today, at the foot of the cross.” Two bookends that perfectly sum up Good Friday for me, too. It’s the day I’d like to skip over, but if I can’t look into that bloodied face of my Savior and thank Him for His sacrificial love for me, how can I truly be grateful for the new life that’s mine because of Easter? Thank you for this thoughtful post, Tara! Blessings to you!
You are so welcome! Blessings to you too!
It’s easy to run from the pain but Jesus didn’t. We must sit at the foot of the cross with him. In all it’s conviction and discomfort. Which really is nothing compared to his.
That is so true. Jesus didn’t run from the pain so we must sit at the foot of the cross with him. It really is nothing compared to his…thanks for the reminder!
I have one question. Have you washed that sinkful of dishes yet? LOL
You mean the overflowing sinkful of dishes! YES, they have all been washed. Took me a good 45 minutes to wash them all! 🙂 LOL!