A Good Friday Good Thing

I’ve never particularly liked “Good Friday” and have often wondered how a horrible, terrible, and appalling event got a “good” name.

 Last Wednesday, for about the millionth time, I remembered.

 It had been yet another difficult week and driving home from a four month follow up appointment with the surgeon who put a new knee in my left leg LAST November, I sighed… A LOT.

 Today he had said, “Everything looks great. It is coming along on schedule.”

I said, “But, it still HURTS.”

With a huge grin, my human physician said, “Ah, you’re fine. It takes at least a year for a new implant to settle in. You’re doing great. Come back in a year. Unless you have problems.”

 *sigh*

 The knee replacement followed by the unexpected pneumonia and staph infection in my lungs and long weeks of IV antibiotics drained me. They told me recovery would be slow. Well…. It has been S. L. O. W.

Still, I keep on keeping on and work hard to snap back to my old, happy care-giver self. Lately, I had lagged a lot.

 And, to put black icing on my springtime cake, there were no blue bonnets this year to bring smiles to us Texas hill country folks. So, after my visit to the doctor and trudging through the grocery store, I drove home in a down-trodden attitude. As I rounded the curve to head up the last hill to our gate, the music on my car radio sank into my consciousness……

They struck Him and they cursed Him and mocked His holy name
All alone He suffered everything.

(Wait. I know that one. Listen. . . . .)

 He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels,
But He died alone, for you and me.

 

They spat upon the Savior so pure and free from sin;
They said, "Crucify Him; He’s to blame.”

 

I raised my tired old hand in praises.

 

He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels,
But He died alone, for you and me.

For ME. Liz. Me, the child who God—the author and finisher and creator of EVERYTHING—had created  and made and brought into being. This old, tired, hurting, limping seventy-six year old granny. Jesus did NOT have to endure anything. He CHOSE to. Yes, perhaps for you, too, but I know it was for ME he died.

Oh the smiles that filled my soul.

I forgot some of the pain, some of the exhaustion, a lot of the worry.
Somehow, I will do another day.
Somehow, I CAN keep on.
He gave me a job to do.
I must trust that He will help me do it.

He could have called ten thousand angels
To destroy the world and set Him free.
He could have called ten thousand angels,
But He died alone, for you and me.

 

Thank you, Ray Overholt, for penning these fabulous words so many years ago. Thank you, KHCB radio for playing redeeming music just when I needed it most. Thank You, Holy Father, for loving me enough to die for me so that I will live forever with You. Thank you, human physician, for giving me a nice, new knee so I can continue to take care of my loved ones.

 Just imagaine: ME !!! He did it for me.

 I hope you, dear reader, know the joy of this truth and that you rejoice with me on Easter morning when the grave is EMPTY.

Easter Blessings,

            Liz

 P.S. There has been a long, dry spell between my postings, but because I still have a few other Good Friday blessings to share, I’m trying to be faithful, for a change, in posting. I do hope you’ll return.

Just for the record, check out this Scripture:

Matthew 26:50-56

⁵⁰ And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him.

⁵¹ And behold, one of those who were with Jesus reached and drew out his sword, and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword. ⁵³ Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?”

⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. ⁵⁶ But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.”

****** Oh. But wait. That is not all of chapter 26…. Does this sound familiar????

 Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)