This year we celebrate Good Friday by reading the Gospel of John chapters 18-19. We encourage you to pick up a bible, or open up your bible app, and read along with us. Then reflect upon the "stations" of Jesus' march to the cross.
Good Friday is the day we remember Jesus’ death on the cross. Is good Friday really “good”? It may seem odd that people celebrate the day Jesus’ was crucified as “good.” Obviously, the suffering Jesus went through on Good Friday was not good. He was whipped, beaten, mocked, and killed in a very violent way. How can that be good?
The results of Jesus’ death are very good! This is explained in Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Then in 1 Peter 3:18, it is reiterated again: “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”
A "gambit" was originally a chess term.
The King's Gambit is an opening move in which a player sacrifices material, usually a pawn, with the hope of achieving a resulting advantageous position.
“Sacrifice a player to achieve an advantageous position.”
God made a sacrifice on our behalf.
The King of Heaven became human and was nailed to a cross.
But that move has gained us a great advantage-
By his sacrifice we can have eternal life.
This Sunday we start our Easter Season.
We walk with Jesus through the moves that led to his death, burial and resurrection.
Our King’s Gambit has won victory over sin and death!
