Isaiah 53:4 NIV Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
In the United States, today, the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, is known as Black Friday. But today I want to look back at another Friday, Good Friday. I want to look at these two Fridays as a crossroads. Each Friday, radically different yet inextricably linked. One, a secular celebration of materialism and consumerism, the other, a sacred commemoration of sacrificial love.
Black Friday
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season and is the busiest shopping day of the year. Many stores offer highly promoted sales at heavily discounted prices and often open early, sometimes as early as midnight or even on Thanksgiving.
Black Friday has become a cultural phenomenon, a day marked by frenzied shopping and the relentless pursuit of material possessions. As we rush to stores, eager to get the latest gadgets and trendy clothes, we often lose sight of what truly matters. Amid the chaos and the clamor, we forget the faces of those less fortunate, the needs of our neighbors, and the deeper longings of our souls.
Good Friday
In stark contrast, we have Good Friday, a day of profound significance. It is the day we remember the ultimate sacrifice, the love that knows no bounds. On this day, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, willingly endured suffering, humiliation, and death on the cross. His sacrifice was not for material gain or personal glory but for the redemption of humanity.
Isaiah 53:4 NIV Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
1 Peter 2:22-24 NIV [22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [23] When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Contrasts in Values of the Two Fridays
John 3:16 NIV For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8 NIV But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Galatians 2:20 NIV I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
1 John 4:10 NIV [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Romans 6:23 NIV For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Through His sacrifice on Good Friday, we are offered the opportunity to experience a life that transcends earthly limitations and extends into eternity.
Isaiah 9:2 NIV The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
John 8:12 NIV When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine
The transformative power of Christ's light, dispels the darkness of sin and despair. Good Friday, though a day of sorrow, ultimately leads to the triumph of light over darkness, as symbolized by the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.
So before you go shopping, pause and reflect on these two Fridays. Let us ask yourself’; What truly matters? What am I pursuing? Am I seeking lasting joy or fleeting pleasures?
In the midst of our busy lives, don’t forget the ultimate sacrifice made for our salvation. Let’s embrace the love of Christ, the love that transforms lives and brings hope to the world. Let’s choose the path of Good Friday, a path of love, sacrifice, and eternal life.
In the United States, today, the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, is known as Black Friday. But today I want to look back at another Friday, Good Friday. I want to look at these two Fridays as a crossroads. Each Friday, radically different yet inextricably linked. One, a secular celebration of materialism and consumerism, the other, a sacred commemoration of sacrificial love.
Black Friday
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season and is the busiest shopping day of the year. Many stores offer highly promoted sales at heavily discounted prices and often open early, sometimes as early as midnight or even on Thanksgiving.
Black Friday has become a cultural phenomenon, a day marked by frenzied shopping and the relentless pursuit of material possessions. As we rush to stores, eager to get the latest gadgets and trendy clothes, we often lose sight of what truly matters. Amid the chaos and the clamor, we forget the faces of those less fortunate, the needs of our neighbors, and the deeper longings of our souls.
Good Friday
In stark contrast, we have Good Friday, a day of profound significance. It is the day we remember the ultimate sacrifice, the love that knows no bounds. On this day, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, willingly endured suffering, humiliation, and death on the cross. His sacrifice was not for material gain or personal glory but for the redemption of humanity.
Isaiah 53:4 NIV Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
1 Peter 2:22-24 NIV [22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [23] When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Contrasts in Values of the Two Fridays
- Black Friday is a celebration of self, a relentless pursuit of personal desires. Good Friday, on the other hand, is a testament to selflessness, a love that transcends all boundaries. Jesus Christ, willingly gave His life for the salvation of humanity. His selfless act on Good Friday is a testament to the boundless love of God.
John 3:16 NIV For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8 NIV But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Galatians 2:20 NIV I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
1 John 4:10 NIV [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
- Black Friday is driven by material possessions, the fleeting pleasures of consumerism. Good Friday, however, points us to spiritual riches, the eternal life offered through faith in Christ.
Romans 6:23 NIV For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Through His sacrifice on Good Friday, we are offered the opportunity to experience a life that transcends earthly limitations and extends into eternity.
- Black Friday can often be a time of darkness, a descent into greed and materialism. Good Friday, however, is a beacon of hope, a reminder of the light that shines in the darkness.
Isaiah 9:2 NIV The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
John 8:12 NIV When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine
The transformative power of Christ's light, dispels the darkness of sin and despair. Good Friday, though a day of sorrow, ultimately leads to the triumph of light over darkness, as symbolized by the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.
So before you go shopping, pause and reflect on these two Fridays. Let us ask yourself’; What truly matters? What am I pursuing? Am I seeking lasting joy or fleeting pleasures?
In the midst of our busy lives, don’t forget the ultimate sacrifice made for our salvation. Let’s embrace the love of Christ, the love that transforms lives and brings hope to the world. Let’s choose the path of Good Friday, a path of love, sacrifice, and eternal life.
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