As though He were carrying in that cross the pain of the world.

Tonight Providence Church is having a Good Friday service, a large part of which is exposition & meditation upon the 7 sayings of Jesus on the cross:

1. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)
2. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)
3. "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." (John 19:26-27)
4. "Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani?" (Matthew 27:46)
5. "I am thirsty." (John 19:28)
6. "It is finished." (John 19:30)
7. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)

It will be somewhat of a somber occassion, but only somewhat since we know what comes next: the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

John Piper lists 8 reasons he thinks Jesus rose from the dead, click HERE to read them in their fullness.

The cross is empty and stands as a symbol to us of the power of the atonement for the forgiveness of our sins. Payment for sin is demonstrated in the resurrection, without which we are to be a people most pitied (1 Cor 15:14-19).

Eight Reasons Why I Believe That Jesus Rose from the Dead
By John Piper

1. Jesus himself testified to his coming resurrection from the dead.

2. The tomb was empty on Easter.

3. The disciples were almost immediately transformed from men who were hopeless and fearful after the crucifixion (Luke 24:21, John 20:19) into men who were confident and bold witnesses of the resurrection (Acts 2:24, 3:15, 4:2).

4. Paul claimed that, not only had he seen the risen Christ, but that 500 others had seen him also, and many were still alive when he made this public claim.

5. The sheer existence of a thriving, empire-conquering early Christian church supports the truth of the resurrection claim.

6. The Apostle Paul’s conversion supports the truth of the resurrection.

7. The New Testament witnesses do not bear the stamp of dupes or deceivers.

8. There is a self-authenticating glory in the gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection as narrated by the biblical witnesses.

A saving knowledge of Christ crucified and risen is not the mere result of right reasoning about historical facts. It is the result of spiritual illumination to see those facts for what they really are: a revelation of the truth and glory of God in the face of Christ—who is the same yesterday today and forever.

Amen. We serve a risen Savior; He's in the world today. He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart. I hope you have experienced salvation by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone.

If not, I encourage you to find a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching church and hear the good news of King Jesus this Sunday. Also, I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have, including where you might find such a church.