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All who pause for reflection and allow their hearts to wander in wonder down the Way of Suffering feel the darkness of this day in history. Good Friday was anything but good ā yet, because of Godās unsearchable love for you and me, it was the pathway to our hope, to our forgivenessā¦ and to eternal life.
Injustice took center stage that day as Pilate turned Jesus over to a rowdy mob though he had found no fault in him. Roman soldiers rendered Him wounded and weak as they flogged an innocent man ā the perfectly innocent Son of man ā with 39 excruciating lashes.
A twisted crown of thorns was placed on his head and a purple robe draped over his shoulders as the crowd struck Him in the face and mocked Godās Son. (John 19:1-3)
āHe was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,Ā so he did not open his mouth.ā (Isaiah 53:7)
Forced, then, to carry the weight of a heavy, wooden cross through streets full of accusations and curses, Jesus, the Messiah, was led toward the hill of death to the place of the skull: Golgotha.
He was poked, prodded and provoked by angry voices that cried for his torture. For his death.
Crucify! Crucify!
āHe was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.ā (Isaiah 53:3)
Nails to flesh.
Agony.
āSurely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.ā (Isaiah 53:4)
On that pivotal day, darkness hurled hatred at the Light of the World. The sun stopped shining and the sky grew black as night as the beloved Son of God drew His final breath and declared, āIt is finished.ā
It. Is. Finished.
Death.
A spear to His side. (John 19:34)
The tomb. Myrrh. Aloe. Burial. Heavenās sorrow.
All for you. All for me. This sacred substitution.
Radical love.
To fulfill the wrath of a holy God who cannot accept imperfection into His presence, the Bible tells us that āGod made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.ā (2 Corinthians 5:21) and that the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf brought a new and living way of redemption to all who would call on His name. Once for all. (Hebrews 9 and 10)
āBut he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.ā (Isaiah 53:5)
His punishment. Our peace.
By His wounds we are healed.
Read that again: by His wounds we are healed. Made whole. Forgiven. Saved. Redeemed. Set free. Healed.
The condemnation of our failings no longer bind us to hopelessness.
It is finished because though darkness shook the earth with death that Friday long ago, the grave could not hold Jesus and death could not defeat Him! {TWEET this!}
Friday brought death, but Sunday brought life!
He is risen, friend! He is risen, indeed!
Respond with me today in worship and thanksgiving in light of the life we have in Christ alone!
Holy Father,
My heart is swollen with the weight of Your love. That You would give Your only Son to make a way for me to know You ā to be made right with You ā to be made righteous in Jesus ā
is more than I could ever, ever thank You for.
All glory and honor and praise be to Your name, Jesus! Amen.
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE
Today I want to share a song with you called Once And For All. Turn up your speakers and prepare your heart for a response of worship. CLICK HERE to listen.
This sacrifice is personal, friend. And so is salvation. Have you ever responded on a heart level to this good news? Have you confessed your mistakes and failures to God? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ ā trusting that what He did on the cross was for the forgiveness of your sins? If you are ready, let today be the day of your salvation by doing just this. Pray. Get right with God. Turn to Jesus. {If you pray to accept Jesus as your Savior today ā or recommit your heart to Him, please CLICK HEREĀ and go to theĀ comments sectionĀ of my blog. Let me know in the comments section. We will pray for you and give you a few action points to help direct you toward what to do next!}
Ā
Have a meaningful Good Friday as you consider the sacrifice made on your behalf… and then have an incredible EASTER CELEBRATION this Sunday!!
HE IS RISEN!!!
Love to you, friend.
GWEN
I’VE GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU!!!
A FREE EBOOK:Ā My latest book,Ā I Want I ALL, includes a Bible Study Guide right in the back; no extra purchase required. I WANT IT ALL is easy to readĀ yet contains compelling and challenging content. You’ll connect with the stories, probably dust off a few heart dreams, think bigger thoughts of God, laughĀ and smile a lot, search your soul, and even cry a little … because each page lovingly directs you to the personal grace and truth of JESUS.
(CLICK HERE to get a FREE Downloadable ā7 Day I WANT IT ALLā Devotional Ebook.)
Comments 35
God is so awesome!!!!!
Thank for the beautiful song! I once again recommit my life to my lord and savior Jesus Christ!
There is only one way to heaven. I have had a rough couple of months, and through Jesus I know I can make it. The issues will still be there, but I can face them with Jesus in my heart and my mind.
Thank you Gwen for such a beautiful and moving song!!! I am recommitting myself to God because he is the only way. I strayed for 2yrs because of an ex-boyfriend who led me down a dark path where I lost contact with my family and kids. I got into drugs and almost lost my job because of him. The relationship became violent and he was jailed 3 times for domestic violence, but I was hooked on him and could not give him up no matter how much I prayed to God to give me the strength to put a restraining order so this nightmare could be over. God finally answered my prayer and I was given the strength through Him to get a permanent restraining order and not have contact with him any longer. It has been a month and my family and I are starting to build the tight knit family we were once. I ask for a lot of prayer from my sisters and brothers that I continue having the strength to stay away from him. He is very toxic for me and I have never been irresponsible as I had become when I was with him. Thank you Gwen so much for your posts, songs and encouragements. God bless you all.
Beautiful song and represents today the day of our Risen Savior so well. Thank you, Gwen for sharing your awesome talent, such a blessing.
Wow. So nice a song that is.
Love it love it love it… such true words bringing FREEDOM ?
Thank you & keep on going X
Beautiful Song!
Thank you for Sharing!
Praise God!
Thank you so much for all you do. What a beautiful song. I am definitely recommitting my life.
Lot’s of love and to joy to everyone
Thank you so much Gwen for this amazing song, and I am so grateful that my friend introduced me to girlfriends in Christ, God bless you always.
What a beautiful song. Thank you!
Thank you for a beautiful song, it touched my heart…
Have Blessed Easter..
Jesus Is Risen Hallelujah!!!
The Words of this song brought tears to my eyes because it made you stop and think of the price Christ paid for our sins. That he willingly died for us. Such a powerful and mighty love. Thank you for sharing this song. It is so beautiful and you sang it so well. God bless you. Have a great Easter. He is alive!
Paul C
hope this place is not for ‘girls’ only! I am part of a GiG, Girls in God at our workplace. thank you for your inspiration, thank you for your music, bless you for what you are doing to keep Christ in our minds, souls, and hearts!
He IS Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen
beautiful song, Gwen i was truly bless thank you
I grew up in a Christian home and knew the reason for Good Friday the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Then Easter was the celebration of the day He arose from the dead. The day He provided the grace for our sins. His blood covers our sins and makes us white as snow. When I was 16 years old I realized I needed to ask for forgiveness for my sins and ask Jesus as my Lord and Savior and that was day I will never forget and never regret. My Jesus did this for me when I was a sinner. Praise the Lord. I still love Jesus and know He is with me and glad for that day He decided to die on the cross for my sins and I can celebrate on Easter because He has risen and I have eternal life.
Thank you for that AWESOME song! That is exactly what I needed to hear on this Good Friday. I also want to thank you for your posts. They truly have helped me during a very difficult period in my life. Jesus died for me and my sins are truly forgiven and this is the truth and I am so thankful for what he did. He loves me and you.
I want to recommit my life to Christ. I need to feel your presence Lord. I Need You Lord…
Thank you for sharing this song needed it so much Have a wonderful Easter!
What a beautiful, wonderful song..thank you so much for sharing!
Thank You Gwen for reminding me what Our Lord gave to forgive my sins. As I start my Good Friday with prayer and remembrance of Jesus on that wooden cross. I want to reaffirm my acceptance that Jesus is my Lord and Savior.
HE IS RISEN HE HAS RISEN INDEED!
GOD Bless you today.
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! Thank you for all the love each of you share with me and the world! GOD is sooooo good, and He shoes His love completely thru all of you!
Thank you again,
Rhonda
This Good Friday, be an Oasis of Love, an Oasis of peace, an Oasis of Oasis Salvation and an Oasis of Redemption. WONDERFUL Songā¤
Your song, “Once and for All,” blessed me today (Good Friday). Thank you for your faithfulness!
I want to recommit mysrlf to God!
I want to recommit myself to God!
I have been away from God for approximately 25 years. He has been speaking to me so strongly of late, and I have been reading the Bible and praying for forgiveness. I have not yet been back in church, but I will be going this Easter Sunday. I just pray that He can forgive me for turning away from him for such a long time. I love him so much, and it breaks my heart to know that I turned my back on him for so long:
God bless u I did that too bot Jesus is all about forgiveness as we celebrate His resurrection & your walk with Him now will be even sweeter
I recently was diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder and often confuse reality with delusions, but my one salvation is and always has been God’s word and the promises Jesus has made to us while hanging on the cross. While my issue may feel like a nightmare sometimes it is nothing compared to what Jesus suffered. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and savior at the age of 8 and even as a young child I understood the Love and sacrifices God made for me. When everything feels insurmountable I turn to John 3:16 and somehow find my way out of the darkness and into the light of God again. I was moved to tears today because my life feels out of control lately but only because of his promise do I understand that it was never in my control to begin with and I find peace again. Rejoice in the Lord always.
I love your song. My wish would be able to play that at a worship service this weekend. (I am running the computer, and have some leaway with what plays in music)
Good morning my precious Sis Gwen, thank you for sharing that song! It is beautiful I truly enjoyed it!! Love to you and your family on this Good Friday, cause God is good!
Today, in the blackness of this world and the use of bombs taking lives, I recommit my life to Jesus!
I pray for peace in this world.
I pray for His grace and mercy.
What a beautiful song. Thank you for being the voice I needed to hear today. It’s hard to understand that kind of love Jesus has for us. That we are saved because of Him. Blessed Easter to you.
TODAY SEEMS TO BE FRIEGHTENING AS I NEED TO HAVE FINANCES TO GET BILLS PAID AND SO FAR NOTHING I HAVE DONE HAS HELPED. I NEED A MIRACLE TO PAY MY BILLS AND GET CAUGHT UP AND TO HELP A FRIEND ALSO IF I CAN I NEED TO AND FEEL I NEED TO . SO PRAY TO JESUS THAT TODAY THE FINANCES WILL COME YES I LOOK TO THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE ME BUT SO FAR I AM IN A HOPELESSNESS THAT IS UPSETTING AND I CAN NOT SEE A FUTURE RIGHT NOW I NEED A MIRACLE FOR MY FINANCES THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOU DIED FOR ME SO I WOULD NOT BE IN HOPELESSNESS. AMEN
Thank you Gwen for sharing the beautiful sing on this Good Friday. God has used you to touch my heart. Have blessed day.