(For) FRIDAY, APRIL 18, GOOD FRIDAY, THE 39TH DAY OF LENT 2025

 John 19

Pilate had Jesus flogged.

The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus' head.

The soldier's mocked him and slapped him in the face repeatedly.

The chief priests and temple servants shouted, "Crucify him!"

At about noon when Pilate took Jesus out to the people, the Jews yelled, "Crucify him!" Then Pilate handed him over to be crucified. Pilate did try to release him, but to no avail. The crowd wanted Jesus dead. Pilate stood firm in keeping the wording he chose for the sign he had written to hang above Jesus on the cross: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF TH JEWS. 

We know from other Gospel writers that far more than this happened to Jesus. He was beaten, whipped, spat on, indecently exposed, lied about. 

Everything that happened to him is what we deserve - but he paid the price. He bore it all for humanity, that we could have life and have it to the full. 

Those who saw him die that day thought it was over. It was the blackest of Fridays, and now we can call it Good!

THURSDAY, DAY 20 OF LENT 2025

We are still in John 12. There is sooooo much in this chapter. Jesus is the LIGHT OF THE WORLD. We know our eternal destination because we "walk" in the light! Those who walk in darkness do not have an assurance of where they will spend eternity - and there is no other light, but Jesus! There are many entities that are called gods, but they are not the ONE TRUE GOD! John 12:35-36 records what Jesus said, "The light will be with you only a little longer. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn't overtake you. The one who walks in darkness doesn't know where he's going. While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light." (CSB)

As a little aside: CSB means Christian Standard Bible. I bought this version after I had cataract surgery and it messed up my right eye so each eye sees differently. It is a bit of a nuisance (I am understating that!) and makes reading challenging, so I bought a Bible with significantly larger print, and the one I found that was large enough, which I ordered from Christian Book Distributors, just happened to be this version. I like reading the Bible in different translations!

This morning a friend alerted me to a YouTube video of Kristian Stanfil singing Agnus Dei. I had not heard him sing it before, and it was a blessing. He definitely did justice to the song, and the worship in the congregation came right through the airwaves as I listened. Then I returned the favor, and shared the original of Agnus Dei as done by Michael W. Smith, who wrote the song. It was the only artist I had ever heard sing/ lead it on YouTube - and I love that version as well. It is hands-down my absolutely favorite worship song and I have sung it many times on worship team.

Listening to both of those segued into my looking for YouTube's of Dale & Rita Lidstrom, whom I went to college with. In more recent years, we have become friends. I found what I was searching for, and you can listen too, if you choose. Just search for NOW AND THEN by Dale & Rita Lidstrom YouTube and it should pop right up. The first YouTube I found was one posted in 2009 by our mutual friend, Elvin Huston, so you will find more than just the one I referenced if you do some further searching. I know there is a YouTube of Rita singing as well. You will be blessed! Each of these vocal artists have definitely portrayed the light of Jesus!