approaching Good Friday & Easter

Posted by occwebsite
06th Apr 2023

As we approach Good Friday and Easter, I want to share some thoughts on disappointment, loss, betrayal, failure, pain, fear, and abandonment.

Some of you are thinking:  “Thanks for keeping it so light and happy, Mike!”

No matter how heavy the season seems right now, God sees you, and he gets you.

Think about this week in Jesus’ life:

  • Maundy Thursday (today) started with foot washing and betrayal.
  • After dinner, Jesus and his disciples went to the garden of Gethsemane to pray.
    This is the only time Jesus asked his disciples to do anything specifically for HIM. “Stay awake and pray with me.”
    They fell asleep.
  • After his arrest, orchestrated by his close friend, Judas, and sealed with a kiss, the disciples scattered in fear.
  • Peter denied knowing him.
  • Jesus, the King of Kings, the Messiah, the Savior of the World, the one they thought would overthrow Rome and restore Israel to its rightful place, was beaten, flogged, mocked, spit on, humiliated, forced to carry his cross, stripped of his clothes and his dignity, stabbed in the side, abandoned by God, and killed.

Their dream died with him.
Their vision of this new Kingdom was buried with him.
They were alone.
They were wrong.
They had given years of their life to something that wasn’t true.

 

  • If you are in a season of uncertainty, Jesus gets it.
  • If you have been betrayed by someone you love, Jesus gets it.
  • If you have unmet expectations and unfulfilled dreams, Jesus gets it.
  • If you feel abandoned, Jesus gets it.
  • If you feel disappointed or disillusioned, Jesus gets it.

Good Friday reminds us that even when it feels over, it’s not over.
Resurrection is coming.

Good Friday reminds us that hope is found after we walk through a hopeless season.
Resurrection is coming.

Good Friday reminds us that death is a prerequisite to a resurrection.
Resurrection is coming.

 

Be encouraged today.
God sees you.

Resurrection is coming.