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(Good) Friday Encouragement, Easter Weekend 2025

“And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God!’” – Mark 15:39

This is a terrible day! Jesus has spent three years teaching and performing miracles. He has spent three years trying to help people understand who he is and who God is. The teaching and miracles have led to this moment, his crucifixion at the hands of the people he came to love and serve. As Jesus approaches his sixth hour of hanging on the cross, he cries out twice. He cries out once to say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As if the physical pain is not enough, Jesus is in emotional agony and expresses his feelings of loss and abandonment. Finally, he cries out in a loud voice and “breathes his last.” During this terrible moment we have verse 39, “And when the centurion, who stood in from of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God.’”

For this centurion, it was not the teaching of Jesus nor the miracles of Jesus that convinced him of Jesus’ true identity. No, he was convinced of who Jesus is by the way Jesus died. This terrible day in this terrible moment the centurion saw something in Jesus and his suffering that caused him to believe.

What is God doing in the heart of this centurion that this is the moment his spiritual eyes are opened?

How is it that Jesus’ terrible death helps the centurion to see and acknowledge God?

Whatever it is, I want it. I have been brought up, like many of you, hearing (and memorizing) verses like, “God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him…”, “In our weakness, God’s strength is made perfect”, and “Count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds…” These verses, along with many others, are encouraging and powerful and, more importantly, they are also TRUE!

It is easy to see God working through Jesus’ teaching and his miracles. It is much more difficult to see and believe God is working in the midst of suffering, especially in our own. BUT HE IS WORKING NONETHELESS! He is working for us and for those around us.

In this story of the death of Jesus, we see these “memory verses” played out in real life! Jesus is at his weakest and most vulnerable AND God the Father is at work!

Today for me is a strong reminder that any struggle or suffering I face is not in vain, that God will never leave nor forsake me, that even in my weakness God’s strength is made perfect.

Be encouraged today. God sees you, He knows you, and He loves you. God is drawing you close to himself and HE IS WORKING!

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank you for meeting me today! Thank you for providing what I need and not just what I think I need! Thank you for guiding me into all truth! Thank you for the renewed sense of hope and for increasing my faith today. Holy Spirit, help me to keep in step with you today and help me to share your hope and love with those around me today. Open my eyes to see you at work and help me to join you in that work. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I love you!