Good Friday Holy Week Video:
And here's a little devotional video from RightNow Media for the kids and parents for Good Friday: Jesus is on Trial
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“Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise” Luke 23:43
Before Jesus ever got to the cross, the physical rigors of torment, harassment, abuse, etc. etc., were unbearable. Thus we only have seven brief but powerful statements that our Savior made from the cross on Good Friday. Each statement reminds us that He was and is the KING of Kings plus He is sovereign over all.
So, Good Friday is here. With its arrival a tremendous promise is salvation was offered and granted to one of the most degenerate individuals we could imagine. So, let’s together examine this second statement of Jesus from the cross, “Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise.”
Two thoroughly degenerate criminals hang on their own cross alongside of Jesus. These two have devoted their ways to a life of crime. Now their day of judgment is here. The wrong they have done has caught up with them and their torment on the cross gives witness to their horrible character as they use their dying strength to taunt Jesus. Really? Guys you are dying. Isn’t there an ounce of goodness or kindness in you?
But wait! All of a sudden something happens. Good Friday arrives for one of these sinners. One thief says to the other, “This man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41). His taunting of Jesus was silenced by his sudden awareness of who he was. In these final moments of life he is ready with his dying breath to repent. Truly this was Good Friday!!!
But let’s go a bit further. First, this sinner/criminal rebuked the other sinner/criminal. He says to him from his cross “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due rewards for our deeds: but this Man has done nothing wrong “ (Luke 23:40,41). Right there this sinner confessed his guilt, his sin and accepted the justice of his punishment. PLUS he affirmed the absolute innocence of Jesus Christ. Yes it was Good Friday!!! Talk about waiting till it was almost too late! But today was Good Friday and this sinner, just like me and you, was about to receive an amazing gift of grace from the Savior.
Secondly, now comes Amazing Grace. This sinful man, no different than you or me, says to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” This is an incredible confession, for this man sees Jesus as Lord and King. In his final moments of life he is going to receive forgiveness and a promise from the Savior of the World. Jesus says to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43). This is Good Friday. Yes, Jesus is always ready to offer grace when one confesses and asks to be remembered no matter how sinful they have been.
No one that I know has ever received a more wonderful assurance of salvation than that man on the that cross on that Good Friday. This was an immediate and unconditional gift of grace and the promise of eternal life with Christ. This man could not get off the cross for one moment to do one good deed in order to receive salvation. Truth is, neither can we. Our good deeds aren’t so good and they won’t save us. But God’s grace does. Jesus paid the price and yes, Good Friday really is good. Good for that one criminal hanging there by Jesus. Good for you if you confess and ask Jesus into your life. Good for me. But don’t wait till it’s almost too late. Do it now. Do it today. Open your heart and receive Jesus as your Savior. Tell the world IT’S GOOD FRIDAY!!!!!