The Greatest of Fridays
"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
Many years ago, I heard a pastor ask 'why is this called good Friday?' He had just explained the gruesome death of Jesus in much detail. He read scripture where people called for Christ to be crucified, flogged Him, hammered nails into His hands and feet, and mocked Him as He died on a cross. By the end of the sermon, the pastor answered his own question by saying, "Jesus died for you. And that is why it is called Good Friday." Many Americans have heard at some point that 'Jesus died for them.' They have the options of walking into a church, reading a Bible, asking a Christian friend about their faith, or listening to a Youtube sermon. However, most people don't. God knew this, so He calls his followers to boldly share their faith, and invite others to be in a relationship with Him.
When I think about sharing faith in relation to mission trips, I usually think about short term missions. I picture something like this: a group of well-meaning and courageous Christians fly outside of the country to serve in a poverty-stricken place for 1 to 2 weeks so they can paint buildings, hug children, provide short term healthcare, and share the Gospel. I do not mean this is a negative way-but rather, a more matter-of-fact way. Books like 'When Helping Hurts' became popular in recent years, and in response, many short-term mission groups rightfully shifted from giving immediate on-the-spot care to focus on mobilizing the locals and training up nationals while still providing hands for local tasks. Countless hours of great work have been done in God's name all around the world. But as one author puts it, "God never gets on an airplane and flies back to suburbia. [...] Medical missions is not something we do, it is something God is doing, and we have the great privilege of participating in it" (Medical Missions: Get Ready! Get Set! Go!). Much like sharing the Gospel, the creator of the universe doesn't need us to do it, but He invites us to participate.
Why would a physician, primed to make a very comfortable living, sacrifice their own welfare and physician benefits for another? Powered by Jesus' sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection, medical missionaries go forward with even more than the ability to heal and cure disease. They know a cure to prevent eternal suffering! This cure is not expensive for the patient, it is totally effective, and it impacts the whole body of the sufferer. With the knowledge that Christ walked on this Earth, lived a perfect life, and died on a cross while providing eventual joy for countless people worldwide, we answer the call God commands of all believers to share the truth. Our love for Him ultimately comes out of His love for us. Some of us have grown numb to the statement 'God loves you.' Personally, when I hear that Jesus loves me, I often think, 'I know that already.' Yet when I think about it again, I realize it is the craziest, most beautiful statement in existence! The creator of the universe loves me! I hope this statement hits your heart very personally this Easter weekend. Christ died for you, and that is why it's called Good Friday.
Many years ago, I heard a pastor ask 'why is this called good Friday?' He had just explained the gruesome death of Jesus in much detail. He read scripture where people called for Christ to be crucified, flogged Him, hammered nails into His hands and feet, and mocked Him as He died on a cross. By the end of the sermon, the pastor answered his own question by saying, "Jesus died for you. And that is why it is called Good Friday." Many Americans have heard at some point that 'Jesus died for them.' They have the options of walking into a church, reading a Bible, asking a Christian friend about their faith, or listening to a Youtube sermon. However, most people don't. God knew this, so He calls his followers to boldly share their faith, and invite others to be in a relationship with Him.
When I think about sharing faith in relation to mission trips, I usually think about short term missions. I picture something like this: a group of well-meaning and courageous Christians fly outside of the country to serve in a poverty-stricken place for 1 to 2 weeks so they can paint buildings, hug children, provide short term healthcare, and share the Gospel. I do not mean this is a negative way-but rather, a more matter-of-fact way. Books like 'When Helping Hurts' became popular in recent years, and in response, many short-term mission groups rightfully shifted from giving immediate on-the-spot care to focus on mobilizing the locals and training up nationals while still providing hands for local tasks. Countless hours of great work have been done in God's name all around the world. But as one author puts it, "God never gets on an airplane and flies back to suburbia. [...] Medical missions is not something we do, it is something God is doing, and we have the great privilege of participating in it" (Medical Missions: Get Ready! Get Set! Go!). Much like sharing the Gospel, the creator of the universe doesn't need us to do it, but He invites us to participate.
Why would a physician, primed to make a very comfortable living, sacrifice their own welfare and physician benefits for another? Powered by Jesus' sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection, medical missionaries go forward with even more than the ability to heal and cure disease. They know a cure to prevent eternal suffering! This cure is not expensive for the patient, it is totally effective, and it impacts the whole body of the sufferer. With the knowledge that Christ walked on this Earth, lived a perfect life, and died on a cross while providing eventual joy for countless people worldwide, we answer the call God commands of all believers to share the truth. Our love for Him ultimately comes out of His love for us. Some of us have grown numb to the statement 'God loves you.' Personally, when I hear that Jesus loves me, I often think, 'I know that already.' Yet when I think about it again, I realize it is the craziest, most beautiful statement in existence! The creator of the universe loves me! I hope this statement hits your heart very personally this Easter weekend. Christ died for you, and that is why it's called Good Friday.
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