Good things still happen on good friday

[John Arnold]

I’m somber today, even teary eyed. For me to think what Jesus did for me on the cross is a sacrifice too wonderful to take lightly. Every Good Friday my mind races back to my childhood days in he Sheridan section of Pittsburgh, PA. It was the 1950s. 

Good Friday as I remember it was a quiet day. Businesses were closed, churches were adorned with purple draped over the doors. The local cinema was open showing movies about the real meaning of Good Friday. You could feel it in the air that something was different about this day. As I pen these words I can still sense the stillness of those days.

I was always perplexed as a kid about why this day was called Good Friday when Jesus gave His life on the cross. I eventually learned that it was Good that Jesus gave His life as a substitute for me so I wouldn’t have to be separated from God because of my sin. Jesus bore my sin on the cross so I could have fellowship with a holy God.

I remembered the palm branches at my grandmother’s  apartment in McKees Rocks . She would bring them home from her church and display them on the wall. 

Fast forward to our Easter services at Crossroads Ministries / Library Baptist: For many years we have given out palms to those who attend. What a joy it is to see especially the kids waving their palms. Then on Thursday and Good Friday there was a Musical drama depicting the death and resurrections of Jesus. It was a lot of work for the church to undertake at this busy time of year but God has always used it in a special way 

It was 2001 and one of our members had been witnessing to her friend, Debby. She invited her to the Good Friday musical. Debby sat in the back of the church and observed intently. After the service she got in her car and drove down the access road, turned right on RT 88 and headed into Finleyville. She was overtaken by emotion and tears, pulled off the road and had a meeting with God. Deb later told me that it was the first time in her life that she realized that what Jesus did on the cross was for her personally….”it was for me”

From that day on Deb was a new person. A few years later she made up tee shirts and inscribed on the front of them was, “Good things still happen on Good Friday.” She has been used by God in wonderful ways since that 2001 Good Friday service.

Only God can do these things.

John