Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, three days after his crucifixion. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus, when He descended to hell taking the wrath of God for our sin as He became sin. On the third day He arose giving eternal life to those who believe.
Good Friday is a special day for Christians all around the world. It's a day when we remember and celebrate the amazing love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Let's break it down into simple steps and use some Bible verses to help us understand it better!
Step 1: Jesus' Crucifixion On Good Friday, we remember that Jesus was crucified. Crucifixion means He was nailed to a cross and died. But why did He have to die? Well, the Bible tells us in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." This means that because of our sins, we deserve to die. But Jesus loved us so much that He took our place and died for us.
Step 2: Jesus Took Our Punishment When Jesus died on the cross, something amazing happened. He didn't just die physically, but He also took the punishment for all the wrong things we have done. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, it says, "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." This means that Jesus took all the punishment we deserve for our sins so that we can be forgiven and made right with God.
Step 3: Jesus Rose Again But the story doesn't end with Jesus' death. Three days later, on Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead! This shows us that Jesus has power over death and gives us hope for eternal life. In John 11:25, Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying." This means that because Jesus rose from the dead, we can have eternal life if we believe in Him.
So, Good Friday is a day to remember and celebrate Jesus' amazing love and sacrifice for us. He died on the cross to take away our sins and give us eternal life. Let's thank Him for His incredible gift and remember His love for us not just on Good Friday, but every day of our lives!
Heavenly Father,
I come to you with a humble heart, recognizing my need for a Savior. I believe in Jesus Christ, your Son, who died on the cross for my sins and rose again. I confess that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness.
I now declare with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I believe in my heart that you raised Him from the dead. I surrender my life to Him and invite Him to be my Lord and Savior.
Thank you, Lord, for your amazing love and grace. I accept your gift of salvation and I choose to follow Jesus all the days of my life.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Romans 10:9-10 (NLT): "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved."
Matthew 27:52-53
New Living Translation
52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
New Living Translation
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.