Good Friday invites us to pause and behold something both sobering and full of hope.
In this message, Pastor Jeff led us to consider the deep reality of the cross and the problem at the heart of our world. We see brokenness everywhere. Conflict, suffering, fear, and injustice. Scripture reminds us that the root of this darkness is the presence of evil that entered the world long ago. And all our human solutions, no matter how well intentioned, cannot ultimately fix what is broken within us.
But God did not leave humanity without hope. John 1:14 tells us that the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. Jesus stepped into our world, lived among us, and willingly carried our sin and sorrow to the cross. As foretold in Isaiah 53, He was pierced for our rebellion and crushed for our sins. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, bearing the weight of our brokenness so that we could be made whole.
What looked like defeat was, in fact, victory. Through His sacrifice, Jesus cancelled the record of charges against us, disarmed the powers of evil, and opened the way for redemption and freedom. The cross stands as a turning point in history, setting in motion God’s work of renewal and restoration for all who place their trust in Him.
Good Friday is a dark day, but it is not the end of the story. The work of the cross gives us peace in the midst of trials and the assurance that Christ has overcome the world. Because of Him, we can face suffering with hope and live as people who belong to a new creation.
Today, we behold the Lamb.
