“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
There are two movies I distinctly remember sitting in a theater watching in absolute silence, except for the sounds of people sobbing. One was Saving Private Ryan, the other was The Passion of the Christ. The similar themes of these two movies (someone sacrificing themselves for someone else) are contrasted by important differences.
At the end of Saving Private Ryan, Captain John Miller, mortally wounded, pulls Private James Ryan close and with his dying breath tells him, “Earn this.” Miller and his squad sacrificed everything to save Ryan, and in that moment, Miller charges him to live a life worthy of that sacrifice. Decades later, an elderly Ryan stands at Captain Miller’s grave, struggling with guilt and asking his wife, “Have I been a good man?” He wonders if his life was worthy of the sacrifice of many lives that was made for him, one man.
Contrast that with what Jesus did, as we read in the gospels and illustrated in The Passion of the Christ. Unlike Captain Miller’s final words, Jesus does not say, “Earn this.” Instead, His last words on the Cross were, “It is finished” (John 19:30). One man, completely taking the punishment of many.
The sacrifice of Jesus is not something we can earn; it is a gift of grace. While we should live in response to that grace, we do so not out of guilt or obligation, but out of gratitude and love.
At the Cross, justice and mercy met. Our sin demanded punishment, yet Jesus took our place. He bore the wrath we deserved so that we could receive grace. He was forsaken so that we could be forgiven. His suffering became our salvation.
Today, let us pause and remember. The Cross was not just an event in history—it is the very foundation of our faith. It reminds us that sin is serious, but God’s love is greater.
For reflection:
- Take time to sit in silence and reflect on the reality of His suffering. Let the Cross stir your heart toward repentance, humility, and worship. And as we anticipate the joy of Easter morning, let us never forget the price that was paid for our redemption.
by Pastor Jim Caler
Good Friday Family Talk
“After Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, he died. At that moment the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook. The rocks split.”
(Matthew 27:50-51 NIrV)
When Jesus was growing up, His parents took Him to the temple, just as your parents take you to church. The temple building, though, was very different from our church building! Inside the temple, there was an inner room called the “Most Holy Place.” Only the High Priest could enter this place because it was where God lived on earth—kind of like His throne room. The Most Holy Place was separated from the rest of the temple by a huge, heavy curtain. The curtain had pictures of cherubim—winged, angel-like creatures, woven from red, blue, and purple thread. These colors and pictures reminded the priests of heaven.
The Bible tells us that the moment Jesus died, the curtain was torn in two pieces—from top to bottom! This curtain would have been about 15 feet tall—that’s probably twice as high as the ceiling in your home! No human could reach the top of the curtain to tear it apart—this was God’s doing!
Later in the Bible we read that Jesus Himself was like the curtain! (See Hebrews 10:19-22.) His body was torn on the Cross, and since He paid for our sins, the way is now open for us to meet with God! We don’t need to wait for special days, we don’t need the help of a high priest. We can call out to God at any time, knowing that He will hear and answer. Jesus has cleared the path to friendship with our Father God!
Let’s Talk!
- Reread Matthew 27:50-51. If you had been there when Jesus died, how would you have felt seeing and hearing these things?
- What is so amazing about this torn curtain in the temple?
A Step Further: Interactive Prayer
Use purple, red, and blue crayons to draw a prayer.
- Praise: “I praise you Jesus because you are holy and good”. Use the purple crayon to draw a crown, a throne or anything that reminds you of God.
- Confession: “I confess that I have walked away from you, Jesus. I have chosen wrong. I have sinned.” Use the red crayon to draw a cross or heart.
- Thanksgiving: “Thank you Jesus for dying for me and making a way to be friends with God.” Use the blue crayon to draw the sky or a smile.
by Pastor Laure Herlinger
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