Good Friday

If you wanted to know about God, where would you look? Some say, “There is no God, so the question is mute.” Others say, “God exists but cannot be known.” Others suggest, “God lives in you, so meditate and get to know yourself.”

The Christian answer is different. To know God, you need to know Jesus. The Bible says, “No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known” (John 1:18). Jesus is not a man who aspired to be god; Jesus is God born in human flesh. A disciple once said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus answered, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:8-9). Another disciple called Jesus “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). If you want to know God, know Jesus.

Know what about Jesus? His teachings, miracles, or acts of kindness in feeding the hungry and healing the sick? Those are good things to know but the Bible focuses our attention elsewhere. About one third of each of the four Gospels that record the life and times of Jesus focuses on the last week of Jesus’ life. The focus is on his death. He died.

You learn more about God on the cross of Jesus than anywhere else in human history. There on the cross is God. There on the cross you see the character, nature, heart and mind of God.

What if God died? Then you would know the justice of God. He said sin must be paid for. There, on the cross, God himself is paying the penalty for our sin.

What if God died? Then you would know the love of God. Rather than punishing you, he bore the pain himself.

What if God died? Then you would know the will of God. From eternity he had planned to save the world through this sacrifice. He was working to accomplish his purpose.

What if God died? Then you would know the wisdom of God. The cross doesn’t look so smart to us; but our wisdom, the Bible says, is foolishness.

What if God died? Then you would know the power of God. When Paul preached, he proclaimed Christ crucified. That, he added, is the power of God.

What if God died? Then you would know the glory of God. Jesus came to bring glory to the Father. When he stated from his cross, “It is finished,” Jesus completed the work the Father had given him to do.

Now what? Now you know God’s justice, love, will, wisdom, power and glory. The best part? You also know that he didn’t stay dead. On Easter Sunday, the story will be made complete!

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