Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 NIV
Good Friday is the most sacred margin the world has ever experienced. It is the powerful pause between struggle and triumph. It’s the start of three days when the universe held its breath. This day is a gift of slow-down for Jesus followers, an opportunity for us to remember His sacrifice, to realize we no longer must carry everything alone. It is the margin we need to renew gratitude, and commitment to release control and let His purposeful transformation power work in us.
What can Good Friday teach us? First, there is purpose in the pain. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (a favorite of my dad’s) said, "Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.” It may seem strange to call the day good when the worst thing that could happen happened to the best person who ever lived, but Good Friday is called good because the sacrifice of Jesus on that day was the seed of life for all humanity. It was better than good! His resurrection took the sacrifice that appeared to be a hopeless end and turned it into eternal life and hope. King Jesus still does that with the pain in our lives. When it is surrendered to Him, it is an opportunity for God to work His great purposes in and through us.
The old must die to make room for the new. The old covenant between God and humans was ended. No longer did sacrifices pave the way to God and forgiveness. Jesus paid the debt once and for all. This is a great day to make room for peace and freedom from anything you are allowing to hold you down. When Jesus said, "It is finished," He was not just speaking of His life, but of the heavy burden of sin and struggle. Use this day to drop your own burdens and find rest in the "margin" He created. You can start new patterns and practices as you let go of the old.
The most profound and sacred transformations usually happen in silence, stillness, and waiting rather than in the hustle. As difficult as it may be, our souls need sacred stillness and willing waiting. It is normal to fear the quiet and run from the wait. But this margin is not empty wasted time. It is the soil where new life begins to take root and grow.
Sacrifice that gives life requires space. Jesus’ sacrifice on Good Friday was the ultimate act of giving from the overflow. No resentment. He even forgave those who killed him. His intimacy with the Father and the knowledge of His purpose kept Him filled up. Without margin in our own lives, we often serve others with resentment because we have nothing left to give. We even “wait on God” with anger and impatience.
This day is a gift from God. Receive it. Don’t let this day be ordinary.
- May you find strength in the sacrifice, hope in the waiting, miracles in the margin.