Tis-Good-Friday, and many would say it’s the worse day of the year; it is not, it is a day of redemption, reflection.  It’s a good-day.  

Our Lord’s last words of the cross placed-to-all forgiveness, compassionate assurance, fragility & commitment.

Fanny-Crosby epic-hymn rings loud in triumph,  “In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever Till my raptured soul shall find, Rest beyond the river.”  

Tis-Good-Friday. It was good, but George Bernard brings us closer in his-hymn “The-old-rugged-Cross”,  poignant he writes “On a hill far away stood an Old-rugged-cross, The emblem of suffering-and-shame, And I love that old-cross, where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain.”  

Tis-Good-Friday, but we must-not-weep or lament its pain, Jesus himself begs us not. Hear Him as He passed the weeping women-of-Jerusalem who wept of His agony,  “Weep not for me but for yourselves  and-your-children.”  Perhaps He glimpsed into the 21st-century, perhaps He envisioned world-war 1&2, corona-19. Perhaps. But again Bernard brings our thoughts-to-order “On that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, for the dear lamb-of-God Left His glory above, to dark Calvary.”

Tis-Good-Friday, time to forgive, reconcile, and prepare to sing in loud hosanna’s “HE LIVES”,  recommitting yourself to his love-and-sacrifice away  from a world of sin and shame. 

Tis-Good-Friday and Bernard again gives room for reflection, he invites us to visit “the old rugged cross I will ever be true, It’s shame and reproach gladly bear, Then he’ll call me some day, To my home far away Where his glory forever.” 

 Tis-Good-Friday, so too, I share, tis not a time for weeping but  a time knowing that our Lord gave unselfishly, so should-we, He paid the price, we received redemption.

Hear Bernard one last time…  

So I’ll cherish that old rugged cross, Till my trophies at last I lay down, I will cling to that old-rugged-cross, And exchange some day for a crown

Tis a good-Friday