“It was Friday–But Sunday’s Coming!”
By Pastor Ron Buxton
(The following is a heavily-borrowed idea from the late Pastor S.M. Lockridge)
It was Friday. Actually, the earliest hours of Friday morning. A man named Peter quietly warmed himself by a fire. His mentor, the itinerant preacher named Jesus, had just been arrested. But that was Friday. Sunday was coming!
It was Friday. His friends fled from the garden of Gethsemane following that arrest. They regrouped in the upper room now fearing for their own lives. But that was Friday. Sunday was coming!
It was Friday. A man named Judas stared at thirty silver coins. Instead of satisfaction for his instant wealth, he was nauseous. It was a penetrating guilt that made him want to vomit. But that was Friday. Sunday was coming!
It was Friday. A woman named Mary was sobbing uncontrollably. She had heard that her eldest son had been arrested, and would soon face the death penalty. She even knew that this day would come. But that was Friday. Sunday was coming!
It was Friday. The allegations against Jesus intensified. The court of public opinion was decidedly against Him now. Yet He remained silent. But that was Friday. Sunday was coming!
It was Friday. Sunlight cracked the horizon over Jerusalem. Roman soldiers began to beat the so-called Jewish Messiah. One soldier even thrust a purple garment over His shoulders, while another pressed a crown of thorns upon His head. They mocked Him with the words: “Hail, King of the Jews!”. But that was Friday. Sunday was coming!
It was Friday. A black man from North Africa named Simon stood along the streets of Jerusalem. Roman soldiers forced him to carry the heavy wooden plank later to be used to crucify Jesus. The city was now awakened with frantic activity in the middle of the Jewish Passover celebration. But that was Friday. Sunday was coming!
It was Friday. Large nails were pulled from a Roman soldier’s pouch. Those same nails were then driven through the wrists and feet of Jesus. Screams of pain echoed across the place known as Golgotha, as blood dripped down that rough-cut lumber. But that was Friday. Sunday was coming!
It was Friday. In agony, Jesus pushed Himself upward against that nail that pinned His feet to the cross. As He exhaled the fluids that were accumulating in His lungs, it also enabled Him to utter short phrases. Precious words at a painful price. In one last push upwards, Jesus shouted: “It is finished!”. And with that final statement, He bowed His head and died. But that was Friday. Sunday was coming!
Folks, Jesus Christ did NOT say, “I am finished”. He said, “IT is finished!” Big difference! You see, Christ suffered and died to pay for mankind’s sin. A supernatural transaction was accomplished upon that cross. Why? We had a debt that we could not pay, and so, He paid that debt that He did not owe. And Christ’s resurrection confirms that payment! Sunday finally came! Receive now that redemptive transaction by faith in Jesus Christ!
