It's a good Friday.

Can you imagine? The desperation they felt must have been crippling. As they watched their beloved Messiah die a death that was uncalled for and unfair. I wonder how many times in the days leading up to His death that His closest followers and family thought "We'll get this straightened out." When Jesus went before Caiaphus and the Council (Matthew 26:57-68). When Jesus was before Pilate and it was so obvious that Pilate wasn't confident that Jesus was actually guilty of anything (Matthew 27:11-14). When Pilate gave the citizens the choice whether to free Jesus or Barabbas (Matthew 15-23). But in all of these situations it never got straightened out. I wonder as Mary watched as her firstborn walked to the cross how did she react. Had she eaten since she heard the news? Had she slept? Had she cried out all of her tears? How could she even put one foot in front of the other? She must have been physically and emotionally exhausted. And then Peter. Poor Peter with his big mouth. Jesus tried warning Peter that he would deny Him three times and Peter wouldn't hear of it (Matthew 26:30-35/69-75). Then it happened, Peter so quickly acted out the prediction of Jesus. And Jesus knew it. But how could Peter get to Him and beg his best friend for forgiveness and try to explain himself. The guilt Peter put on himself must have been so heavy. Unbearably heavy. Oh and Mary Magdalene. That broken woman who had such a tragic and embarrassing past. The women that most followers couldn't be around because their judgement was too strong. But not Jesus. He let her wash his feet with perfume that had been bought with money earned in a less than God honoring way and her own hair that had been used to attract many men. How could Mary Magdalene's legs hold her up as she stood in the crowd? The only man who had ever allowed her to put her past behind her and be a new creature was quickly slipping away from her. What would life look like for her now? She has just started to see the hope in the future. And now she thought it was gone.

Then the moment they all knew in their hearts was bound to happen came. They nailed Him to the cross and raised it for all to see. Their son, best friend, healer, provider, teacher, and leader was there for all to see. Can you imagine being in the crowd. Knowing what was happening was wrong. How could Jesus be dying a criminal's death? How had his life ended that quickly?

For me it's hard to think about those closest to Jesus at the time of His death and not have tears come. I know why the Messiah had to die that horrific death. He has given me His own words to explain it. But they did not have that promise of Sunday. They must have been so confused. Surely that was not the way they expected things to play out. The weight of the unknown must have been unbearable. I don't know about you but I am so thankful that I know that He comes back a couple of days later alive. That human hands couldn't keep Him down. I'm thankful that I can look at this as Good Friday. I know because of this Friday my sins have been forgiven and I can have fellowship with God.

Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father into your hands I commit My spirit!" And having said this He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly, this man was innocent!" And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all of His acquaintances and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. -Luke 23:46-49