Death by Love

Good Friday - The Day Jesus Died

Read: Romans 5:8

• What did you discover in today’s reading?

I remember being a small child, about seven or eight, and hearing for the first time about Jesus’ death on the cross. I believed He was the Son of God, but despite being taken to Sunday school all my life, I knew little else. In my family’s mind back then, Easter and Resurrection Day were synonymous. But all I ever saw were Easter eggs, candy, and the Easter Bunny. 

One day after school, I told my dad I wanted a chocolate bunny as big as me for Easter. My dad looked at me with concern and asked if I knew what Easter was about. I said something about bunnies and eggs and candy. It was then he told me the story of Jesus’ death on the cross. I started sobbing and said, “He died? I didn’t know He died! I’m so sorry!” My dad tried to reassure me, saying it was OK because Jesus came back to life. I eventually calmed down but never forgot the lesson.

It was my introduction to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As messed up as it sounds, it was actually a powerful one. Instead of hearing it in a religious context, I heard it as though someone I loved had died. And my simple, childlike heart understood how much that cost, as much as an 8-year-old could. 

As a teenager, I struggled with grief, mental anguish and self-loathing, but I came to understand Jesus died for my sins. I saw how great His love had to be in order Jesus would die to pay my debt, owed for sins against Him. 

That is the infinite basis of the trust He deserves and proof of His immeasurable love. No matter what is going on in our lives, it is all temporary. But what He did on the cross and through His death, burial, and resurrection is eternal.

Pray: Lord, I pray we would always be aware of and continually changed by your love, demonstrated through the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

Do: Talk to a child about the true meaning of Resurrection Day. Or, share your story with anyone who needs to understand the true measure of God’s love for each of us.

• Do you relate more with the person hanging on the left or right of Jesus?