THE BLACK FRIDAY OF ALL BLACK FRIDAYS

THE BLACK FRIDAY

OF ALL BLACK FRIDAYS

Oh, the day after a lovely Thanksgiving Day comes “Black Friday.”  I don’t know who or where we started calling this day “Black Friday.”  There were people in line very early this morning, some even “camped” out in the various parking lots hoping to get a bargain at their favorite store.

But I am thinking of another “Black Friday” so long ago.  And there were no long lines at shopping malls or waiting in parking lots.  In fact, on this day, 2000 years or so ago, there were crowds of people, but not out for a sales bargain.  This indeed was a dark day, a day of earthquakes and darkness when the sun refused to shine.

It was a day of suffering, intense suffering.  And as the earth trembled and the sky grew dark, there upon the hill were three crosses.  And on the middle cross was the Savior, Jesus Christ.  And there He was suffering for my sin, for your sin.  And of all Fridays to come down through the years, this was the blackest Friday in history. 

And there were crowds at the foot of the cross, crowds of men and women calling out curses at the One who was taking their sin on Himself.  And also at the foot of that cross were those who loved Him, and now felt helpless as they watched Him suffer and die there.  They thought He had come to overthrow the Romans and would set on the throne of David and bring peace to the world, and they just could not understand why He would die and suffer such a cruel death.  And they felt they had lost all their hope in Jesus, the Messiah.

But it was “At the Cross” on that first “Black Friday” that we can kneel today as the price has been paid in full by the shedding of His precious blood. 

AT THE CROSS

“Alas, and did my Saviour bleed and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I?

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away.  It was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day!

Was it for crimes that I have done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity, grace unknown, and love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut His glories in, when Christ the mighty Maker died for man the creature’s sin.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe; here, Lord, I give myself away, ‘tis all that I can do.” (Isaac Watts)

People are running everywhere looking for that special price on a bargain they are looking for.  But I want you to know that another price has already been paid.  And it was paid, not for physical “things” that would soon decay and fade away.  But a price was paid for your eternal soul and for mine. And that price was by the shedding of His precious blood to wash away our sin.  He was God's perfect lamb that day!

“knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” II Peter 2:19.

We owed a debt of sin and it was paid in full on the cross on that “Black Friday.”  How can we comprehend the debt of love that our Saviour took to that cross?  As the song says so plainly, we give ourselves totally to Him as Lord of our lives and look forward to spending eternity with Him.

Yes, that day was dark, but three days later, the “Son” shone again!  The earth again shook, but on this day, our Saviour came out of the tomb shining brightly.  He conquered death and is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven for you, my friend.  He has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts by faith.  His precious Holy Spirit brings comfort and peace into our hearts as we walk with Jesus.  We may have dark days, but I am so glad that the “Son” still shines in our lives!

So on this “Black Friday” we remember the “Black Friday” so many years ago on Calvary, and we meet Him at the cross where our sins are forgiven, and we can praise Him for His great salvation.  Just stop in all your running around today and give Him praise with a grateful heart for all He has done and we can look forward to seeing Him face to face at last!