Happiness is….Good Friday
Why Good Friday?
I need to admit I’ve at all times had a bit little bit of downside wrapping my thoughts round the truth that we take a day during which an harmless man was convicted, overwhelmed, made to hold his personal instrument of demise, had spikes pushed into his physique, humiliated and died an excruciating demise, and we name it Good Friday.
The Germans name it Karfreitag, which is translated to “Sorrowful Friday.” Some consider that it was initially known as GOD Friday. However as horrific because it was, it was a sacrifice that gave us an everlasting hope that billions of Christians would have by no means recognized. So for us, it wasn’t only a good Friday, it was the BEST.
The Centurion:
My favourite Good Friday scripture is Mark 15:39: And when the centurion, which stood over towards him, noticed that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he stated, Actually this man was the Son of God.
Again within the early 80’s, after graduating from VA Tech, I used to be dwelling in southwest Virginia. The Methodist Church I attended had a really particular Easter dawn service at an area cemetery. It started with the crucifixion and ended with the empty tomb. I used to be blessed to be chosen to play the Centurion. Despite the fact that it was solely about 40 levels on that early April morning, I wore sandals, shorts with a towel wrapped round my waist, and a white t-shirt as a tunic. I pushed the individual, portraying Christ, up the hill. He carried the cross. On the prime, I pushed him and the cross down, and stretched his palms to the spikes that had been beforehand pushed into the cross beam. I took a big hammer, and started hitting the top of the spike. The noise echoed hauntingly all through the cemetery. I had a blood capsule hid in my hand that was wrapped across the spike. On in regards to the third strike, I squeezed the capsule. It erupted from my fist, splashing onto my face, my arms, and my tunic.
At that second, I used to be transposed again to that day 2000 years earlier than. I used to be the Centurion, and looking out down into the eyes of the person on the cross, I knew he was the Messiah. My entire physique was overwhelmed with grief, with love, with gratitude, and with a dedication to this man known as Christ to a depth I had by no means recognized earlier than.
Each Good Friday since then, this expertise comes again to me. I by no means thought something might fill me with that very same feeling. However 30 years later, I might once more expertise it, within the type of a portray.
Helmet of Salvation
Judy and I take pleasure in taking an annual journey to the Gatlinburg space. Behind the Pigeon Forge Mill is a horseshoe-shaped assortment of small retailers. One was an artist store. Spencer Williams is among the most wonderful artists I ever met. He specialised in Christian artwork. Over time, earlier than he closed the store, I purchased about 10 prints, and gave them to varied church buildings, together with my house church, in reminiscence of very particular individuals. My favourite print that I purchased is the one I’m exhibiting with this weblog and is named The Helmet of Salvation.
The image I present gained’t be massive sufficient to point out the element, so let me describe it to you. The Centurion is trying up on the crucified Christ, however all you may see are the toes. The blood has dripped down onto the Centurion. However within the helmet, you see a full reflection of the crucified savior. Spencer is definitely the mannequin used for the centurion, and he as soon as instructed me that this was one of the humbling items he had ever painted.
It’s your time to replicate:
So I hope you’ll take just a few moments to learn these phrases, and to check the image. I need you to simply accept that at the present time marks The Best Friday our world has ever recognized. I need you to appreciate that each one the pandemics, wars, and financial collapses won’t ever take away our promise of everlasting life.
I invite you to take pleasure in my different blogs at www.BringingHopeAndHappiness.com, I’d additionally love so that you can contact me at jerryhaynes@bringinghopeandhappiness.com