It Happened One Friday

Thursday night Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Through the night He would face several trials and in the end be led to Calvary to be crucified on Friday morning: "Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified" (Matt. 27:26).

That brings us to Friday; to the cross and all the miracles surrounding the cross that day. This Bible Insight is entitled: "It Happened One Friday." What happened? Perhaps the greatest miracle of all time—the payment for sin, the ultimate sacrifice, the provision for salvation.

Jesus was crucified on Golgotha, which means the Place of the Scull: "And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull" (Mark 15:22). The sky grew dark for three hours: "Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour" (Mark 15:33). The veil of the temple was torn in two: "Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" (Matt. 27:51a). There was an earthquake: "and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split" (Matt. 27:51b). Old Testament saints were raised: "and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many" (Matt. 27:52-53).

So many miracles surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus that day. But the most significant of all was the miracle that took place on the cross itself. When the sky grew dark, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:46b). God had forsaken Christ because at that moment the sin of the world was placed on Him: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).

Peter explains, "For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God" (1 Peter 1:18-19, NLT). Jesus died for you. He died to save you from your sin.

That is the core truth of what happened that Friday. Jesus died on the cross that day. He died on the cross for you. As He hung on the cross dying, He cried out, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). Then He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit'" (Luke 23:46a). "Having said this, He breathed His last" (Luke 23:46b).

His work on earth was done. His purpose for coming had been accomplished. He came to die and shed His blood for forgiveness of sin—your sin. The task was done. Your sin is forgiven through the cross of Christ. Trust Him by faith and you will be saved. Amen.