Good Friday

As we approach good Friday, I am reminded of the suffering that Jesus had to endure before dying on His cross.  Isaiah 53 speaks of it well. 

Isaiah 53:1-3 (NIRV)

¹ Who has believed what we’ve been saying?

    Who has seen the Lord’s saving power?

² His servant grew up like a tender young plant.

    He grew like a root coming up out of dry ground.

He didn’t have any beauty or majesty that made us notice him.

    There wasn’t anything special about the way he looked that drew us to him.

³ Men looked down on him. They didn’t accept him.

    He knew all about sorrow and suffering.

He was like someone people turn their faces away from.

    We looked down on him. We didn’t have any respect for him.

Jesus suffered for all of humanity because He saw that we had within us the potential to reflect God’s light to a darkened world and bring His restoration.  (see: Ephesians 5:14)

Isaiah 53:4-6 (NIRV)

⁴ He suffered the things we should have suffered.

    He took on himself the pain that should have been ours.

But we thought God was punishing him.

    We thought God was wounding him and making him suffer.

⁵ But the servant was pierced because we had sinned.

    He was crushed because we had done what was evil.

He was punished to make us whole again.

    His wounds have healed us.

⁶ All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God.

    All of us have turned to our own way.

And the Lord has placed on his servant

    the sins of all of us.

How much mercy the Lord has shown to us by paying such an incredibly high price for our redemption.  (see: 1 John 3:1)

Isaiah 53:7-9 (NIRV)

⁷ He was beaten down and made to suffer.

    But he didn’t open his mouth.

He was led away like a sheep to be killed.

    Lambs are silent while their wool is being cut off.

    In the same way, he didn’t open his mouth.

⁸ He was arrested and sentenced to death.

    Then he was taken away.

    He was cut off from this life.

He was punished for the sins of my people.

    Who among those who were living at that time

    could have understood those things?

⁹ He was given a grave with those who were evil.

    But his body was buried in the tomb of a rich man.

He was killed even though he hadn’t harmed anyone.

    And he had never lied to anyone.

Jesus shunned the trappings of this world so that we could share in the Father’s glory with Him.  (see: John 17:22)

Isaiah 53:10-12 (NIRV)

¹⁰ The Lord says, “It was my plan to crush him

    and cause him to suffer.

    I made his life a guilt offering to pay for sin.

But he will see all of his children after him.

    In fact, he will continue to live.

    My plan will be brought about through him.

¹¹ After he suffers, he will see the light that leads to life.

    And he will be satisfied.

My godly servant will make many people godly

    because of what he will accomplish.

    He will be punished for their sins.

¹² So I will give him a place of honor among those who are great.

    He will be rewarded just like others who win the battle.

That is because he was willing to give his life as a sacrifice.

    He was counted among those who had committed crimes.

He took the sins of many people on himself.

    And he gave his life for those who had done what is wrong.”

Jesus, the one true Son of God.  Our Savior, our redeemer and our friend!  (see: John 15:15)

The following song was recorded back in the 1970's by Bob Ayala.  Bob recorded with Keith Green back in the day.  The song is a journey of the soul through the passion of Jesus.

↓Click Here to listen to the song

Lord

Words and Music by Bob Ayala

Dusty Road,

so long and winding

The sun was blinding

So was the day

He carried the load,

And Mary crying

Her Son was dying

Today

When the pounding of nails

Cracked the sky

She fell to her knees

And she cried

Mother Mary

Can you carry

The weight of your sorrow

Today

Mary Magdalene

She shouted

Her eyes was clouded

Her mind was in pain

She couldn’t stand to look

Her face was shrouded

Her savior was bearing

Her shame

When the pounding of nails

Cracked the sky

She felt like she wanted

To die.

Sister Mary

Can you carry

The weight of your sorrows

Today

Pontius Pilate

Arrayed in violet

You wallowed in fear

And you're swallowed in guilt

You stand in silence

And watch the violence

You washed your hands

Of the blood that was spilled

When the pounding of nails

Cracked the sky

You tried hard

To not bat an eye

Tell me Pilate

Why did you write it

This is the King

Of the Jews

Thief on the cross beside Him

You’re worthy of the pain

But heaven’s hand

Is wide and open

Because you knew Him by His name

You called Him Lord

The music above is copyrighted by the respective artists, and is demonstrated here for educational purposes only.