Good Friday

Last week I sat with a family as the husband/father underwent heart bypass surgery. The patient, at least in my mind, did not fit the typical profile of a heart-bypass candidate. He is relatively young (just a few years older than me), active, exercises regularly, eats healthy, and basically does all the right things to take care of himself. When the surgeon came out to talk with the family after surgery (and the surgery was very successful), the surgeon said that my friend's problems were probably caused by genetics. In other words, something in his genes makes him more prone to coronary artery disease. The fact that he exercises, eats right, and takes care of himself was to his benefit, but in the long run there was nothing he could really do that would have prevented his problems.

Today is Good Friday, a commemoration of Jesus' death on the cross. I have often wondered why we call it Good Friday. In some traditions it is called Holy Friday or Black Friday. Black Friday seems more appropriate considering the events that historically took place. Jesus was betrayed by one of his own, falsely accused by the religious leaders, stood before Pontius Pilate, beaten and scourged, and ultimately sentenced to be crucified at the insistence of the crowd.

Perhaps the good in Good Friday is a reference to what Jesus did for me? You see, like my friend with coronary artery disease, I too suffer from defective genes. These genes are attached to my spiritual DNA. My disease has left me wounded, broken, and bruised by sin. And like my friend, no matter how hard I try, no matter what I do, I cannot fix the problem. Just as the good surgeon had to intervene in my friend's situation, so Jesus has intervened in my situation. He died on the cross to fix my sin problem!

There's an old hymn that reads: "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."

Thanks be to God!

Blessings,
Jimmy