Faith: Good Friday is not a funeral

There are many things that are earth shattering and life changing. But are none as impacting as the three days that changed the world. What a glorious and splendorous weekend this is. As you read this article, this is the in between day. What must it have been like? We are so far removed from that scene that it’s hard to even imagine what we would feel, unless you have identified with the loss of a very close loved one or the death of a great leader. The fear that would have set in, the pain that would have been at every nerve ending, the uncertainty of a future, all part of a glorious plan, all part of the miraculous redemption.

Consider what yesterday would have been like, a horrible morning. If you slept at all, waking up to the fact that Jesus has been arrested, beaten, drug from place to place, accused of wrongs he had not committed, a great disillusionment might have set in. A day that we call Good Friday, we know, for Him, for the first believers, it wasn’t so good. But because we know the three day story, we no longer have to remorse on this day, it’s not a funeral. It literally is a festival, a celebration. It’s not a day of fasting but of feasting. Death conquered; sin washed away; truly celebratory!

Friday is day number two of three days that changed the world. Day number one is the day that we were also visited by angels. They were harking; they were heralding the announcement of a birth of a Servant King that had come to seek and to save the lost. Day number two, yesterday, was the day that was accomplished on the calendar. Crucified, died, and was buried. Atonement secured. Payment in full.

May your thoughts be drawn to both of those wonderful occasions, and as you consider, and as you ponder what will tomorrow bring? The visual declared victory! He who is dead is now alive! He who was crucified is our Christ! Once again we hear from angels, why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, just as He said! Their comforting words were also a declaration, do not be afraid. After hearing this, the women were met by The Lord Himself, who proclaimed those very same words, “Do not be afraid.”

Do not be afraid. Those were the very first words that Jesus spoke after coming out of the tomb. I pray that you hear them, even as they heard them, do not be afraid. There is so much fear in our world today, so much uncertainty. May the words of resurrection comfort your heart, console your spirit and direct your life. Do not be afraid. Fear not, I am with you always. Perfect love casts out all fear. When the noise of doubt tries to consume your thoughts and the fears we see try to distract our vision, cover your eyes, stop your ears, and listen to the still small voice of the risen King speak to you as He spoke to them. Do not be afraid. May the riches of God’s blessing be upon you tomorrow as we celebrate day three of the three days that changed the world.

Pat Propster is the pastor of Calvary Chapel of Carson City.