Listen Now
Good Friday is the day each year when Christians remember the death of Jesus on the cross. Until I was 18 years old, I did not understand the grief that His death caused others.
Just a couple of weeks before Good Friday in 2011, the twelve-year-old brother of my best friend murdered her parents and attempted to murder her younger siblings.
The phone call that delivered this news to me changed my life and my view of grief forever.
If we look closer at the account in the Bible, we find it relates to us today. The followers and closest friends of Jesus experienced deep grief while watching Him die on the cross for our sins.
They grieved.
So did I.
Sometimes I wondered how it was possible to cry so much.
They were afraid for their lives.
So was I.
Knowing that someone I trusted could turn into such a cruel monster left me doubting I could ever trust another human ever again.
Their grief was real and raw.
So was mine.
Months later, the pain was still raw and the grief process still real and long.
Here’s where things take a leap up. The followers of Jesus had no idea that in three days He would rise from the dead and conquer sin, death, and the grave. Instead, all they could see was the grief of the moment.
That’s what Jesus did for you and me: He conquered death. Death would not win –ever!
When we are in the midst of our grief, we too can forget that God is there. He is at work. He has not left us alone. He is catching every tear we cry. His heart is breaking right alongside our heart. Good Friday grief is real.
But so is Easter Sunday morning joy.
Jesus died and rose again so we can each experience a personal relationship with Him forever and ever. Eternal life! Not only did Jesus defeat death, but, in exchange for believing in Him as God, you get life – forever!
You may be in deep grief. Know that God is with you. Trust that because of Good Friday grief, we get the joy of knowing freedom from grief and sin and death because Jesus rose again!
If we trust Him with our lives, He will turn our Good Friday grief into joy that will last forever.
Amber McCarty-Daniels is married with three children. Read more of her blogs at amber@ambitionsforchrist.com.
