April 7

What Jesus Did, Really

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46)

“It is finished” (John 19:30).

The events of Holy Week happened. Really.

Can you sneak away, even for a few minutes, this Good Friday, to ponder the enormity of what transpired—really—on Good Friday, so many years ago? Ponder the scene—the smells, the crowds, the animals, the shouting. Ponder the cross—the rough wood, the heavy weight. Ponder the emotions that must have been coursing through Jesus—and remember, as fully human, He felt them all.

Ponder the disciples, the friends—and the mother—who must have been filled with a grief beyond measure at the knowledge of what was about to happen. Stay with that. It's so uncomfortable I can barely stand it if I'm honest.

And ponder the Father. The Good, Good Father of endless love and mercy and tenderness who—in the mystery of all mysteries—loves us so much that He set in motion the unimaginable—the unfathomable—so that we might be made right with Him for all time.

It's a lot. It's almost too much. It's love came down, for me and for you.

To help us better understand the events of Good Friday, consider this detailed timeline of events as you pause to place yourself in Jerusalem on this day so many years ago.