Christian Reflection and Prayer

As Christmas is celebrating Jesus' birth, Easter is celebrating Jesus' victory
over death and mankind's hope for eternal life.
The highlights behind the Easter story include Jesus' execution, His burial
and, most importantly, His rising from death.
The account of Jesus' rising from death was recorded in the most authoritative
historical records, the Gospel books: Three days after His death, a few women
first found His tomb empty. Then Jesus appeared in front of these women and His
disciples, talking and eating with them. Out of doubts still, one disciple did not believe
Jesus was alive again until he actually touched Jesus' fatal wounds. In the following
forty days, hundreds of people witnessed this Jesus who had returned from death
until He ascended to Heaven.
Before His death, Jesus had promised eternal life to those who followed Him.
If the story ended at His death, Jesus would have been no more than a religious
figure with a finite life span. But the fact the Jesus rose from death demonstrated
He has the power over death, and only through Him can people have hope for
eternal life. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and
only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
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It Is Finished!”
This Friday of Holy Week is the day that is called “Good Friday". It was a bad Friday
for Jesus, since He suffered unbearable pain and anguish on that day. But it was a
good Friday for us, since all of our sins were atoned for by His suffering and death.
On Good Friday He hung suspended on the cross for 6 hours, including those dark
afternoon hours. About 3:00 PM Jesus said in a loud voice, “It is finished!” (Jn 19: 30).

Shortly thereafter “He bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” He died.
Jesus said, “It is finished!” What was finished? His life? His sufferings? Yes,
but even more than that….His mission was accomplished. All that He had come
to do for us and for our salvation was accomplished. “It is finished!” With that
He is telling us, “Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven!” “It is finished!” is the guarantee
of the peace of mind that we can have in knowing that our sins are fully paid for and we
are thus reconciled to God. “It is finished!” is His assurance to us that the way has been
cleared for us to someday enter eternal life in heaven.
On this Good Friday we will again be standing beneath the cross of Christ. We could
say we were there when they crucified our Lord. We were there, because our sins
were there. God laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Our sins were there and they were
fully atoned for by Him. That’s why this is a Good Friday for us and why we take
great comfort in Jesus’ words, “It is finished!”
RISEN SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH

Scripture:

"They will come and bind themselves to the Lord
in an everlasting covenant" (Jeremiah 50: 5) NIV

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead.
His eye to wach. His might to stay.
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach.
His hand to guide. His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech.
His heavenly host to be my guard.

I bind unto myself the name.
The strong name of the Trinity.
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and one in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation;
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word;
Praise to the Lord of my salvation.
Salvation is of CHRIST the LORD.

Patrick, Apostle of Ireland