“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last” (Luke 23:44-46).
As a Christian, I observe and celebrate Good Friday and Easter, but if I’m entirely transparent, I tend to sometimes “go through the motions” on these special days, without spending much time resting in these days’ true purposes and truths. I continue through the motions, all while continually feeling weighed down by everything that this life brings. In reality, that is the exact opposite of what it should look like. There are some days when I feel like I’m carrying bricks on my back— my sins, temptations, mental battles, relationship struggles, and on and on. Good Friday is a day of remembering how Jesus Christ died on the cross for the sin and shame of humanity. He died an excruciatingly painful death to bring glory to the Father. This season, I’m working to really focus on thanking him for this eternally beautiful gift, while also dying to myself. Dying to myself? Removing the bricks that I carry around like it’s my job, and lying them at his feet. He has done this for me. He has made me free.