Today, on this Good Friday, I think about Christ and His beautiful sacrifice. He is the perfect lamb of God, slain to deliver us. As Isaiah 53:5 says “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.”
What wonderful, glorious news. Christ died for us. He took upon Himself our sin, our sickness, our death. He carried it all in His body to set us free! To bring us into righteousness, healing, and life!
Today also brings to mind the good friends who were with Christ at His darkest hour. I think of Mary of Bethany, John the beloved, and Mary Magdalene and it moves me to tears.
Prior to His death two instances stick out to me. Profound moments with Mary of Bethany and John.
“Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.
Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”” John 12:1, 3, 8 NKJV
Mary of Bethany rested at His feet and anointed Him for His burial. Her anointing wasn’t a waste in the light of His worth. Her offering paled in comparison to His coming offering. He said “Wherever His Gospel is preached people would speak of her.”
“Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it. ” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.” John 13:23-26 NKJV
John rested on His chest at the last supper. He heard the heart beat of Christ! He was told secrets that no other disciples were told. Years later, while on the island of Patmos, he was entrusted with the greatest secret: The revelation of Christ!
At Christ’s Death, a few were found at the foot of His cross. John followed him there and was entrusted with something so precious.
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:25-27 NKJV
John was found at the foot of Christ’s cross along with Mary Magdalene and other women. Jesus looked down and saw John and entrusted him to care for His mother. From that day on John took her into his home. What a great privilege!
On the third day, at His glorious resurrection, Mary Magdalene was found at His feet and was called to something special!
“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.” John 20:1, 11, 15-16, 18 NKJV
Mary Magdalene went to the garden and was the first person to witness His resurrection and Christ asked her to witness to the disciples! What a great privilege to be the first evangelist witnessing of His resurrection!
These people impact my heart. Just the thought of their unique intimacy with Christ brings me to tears. They touched His heart. They remained with Him in the midst of His cross and in turn they were entrusted with such wonderful things. Mary of Bethany being spoken of in the Gospel, John asked to care for Christ’s mother and entrusted with revelation, and Mary Magdalene called as the first witness! What beauty. What wonder. They were each given such deep secrets and special responsibilities.
I want to be like Mary of Bethany, John the beloved, and Mary Magdalene. I want to touch the heart of Christ. I want to know Him in such a deep and intimate way. Through their lives we see our calling and must respond! We are called to be a friend, a worshipper and an evangelist of Christ.
The truth is that we have all sinned and fallen short of His beautiful glory. We missed the mark we were all created to hit. Our sin has alienated us from having an intimate friendship with God. We lost our union with the giver of life and truth and stumbled into death and darkness.
But Christ took the wrath and punishment of sin you and I deserved. He was put to death for us. He suffered and died. His very life and blood, the currency He spent to purchase us. God, the one who created all things gave His own life and blood in Christ Jesus, to purchase you and me as His possession.
This Jesus God raised up. He is exalted at the right hand of God, and He received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, who causes us to walk in the life and truth of God. To enter into daily intimate fellowship with Him. Today, He invites you. He is calling you to Himself. He wants you as a friend. Believe and repent for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Please contact us and let us know if you received Jesus as your Savior today. We would like to celebrate with you and help you understand what has just taken place in your life. Welcome to the family!
By Micah Level