Positive Daily Inspiration – April 7, 2023 – GOOD FRIDAY

“And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of forms, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Matthew 27:27-29

Why do they call Good Friday “good” when it was the day that Jesus was crucified? To all appearances it was the end. To all human senses the worst of humankind seemed to be victorious … AND YET THERE WAS MORE! It was just the darkness before the dawn – The dawn of awakened humanity.

Jesus Christ was tried before Pontius Pilate in the Roman praetorium inside the Antonia Fortress. Here, Roman legions were garrisoned overlooking the Temple of Jerusalem. This large pavement area has been unearthed, consisting of huge limestone blocks, each weighing several tons.

Archaeologists have discovered an interesting game dating back to the New Testament. Etched into the stone pavement of the praetorium is a playing board for game known among the Roman soldiers as “King for a Day.” The soldier who threw his dice on just the right shape won the game. His reward was to be “King for a Day.”

As King, the soldier was dressed in a beautiful purple robe imported from the city of Colossae, where the special purple dye was extracted from seashells. In addition to the robe, the “King” received a crown, scepter, and anything else he wished, but there was one big catch. At the end of the day, the “King” was put to death.

This game sheds new light on the Romans mocking and scourging of Jesus. They beat him, dressed him in a purple robe, gave him a crown of thorns, and told him that he could make demands to save himself. By mocking Jesus, the Roman and Herodian soldiers saw an opportunity to play the “King for a Day” game in a perverse and twisted manner.

But Jesus was not an ordinary man; he was extraordinary.

Jesus rose as he said he would. Jesus was not confined to the tomb. Jesus lives, and his teachings live, because of what happened on Easter weekend.

Many of us have Good Friday experiences in our own lives when we believe all is lost. Then we look to God, and our lives are resurrected into newness. There is new hope and new belief in tomorrow and new gladness to be alive.

Many readers are going through your own personal resurrections. Some of you have been fired. Some of you have gone through downsizing. Some people reading this have lost trust in someone they trusted in so much. Some have been facing divorce or the death of a loved one. Some of those reading this no longer see their children and they feel a crucifixion every time they think of their children. Some are having creditors beating down the doors of their inner peace.

Most of you have gone through your own crucifixions in the past, and, hopefully, you have discovered the good that the Good Friday truth brings – that there is life after seeming death.

We are Easter people. We are defined more by our resurrections than our crucifixions. I wish you a happy Good Friday in knowledge of a loving God that is everywhere present, accessible, and available to you now. No matter where you may be or what you may face.

POSITIVE DAILY PRAYER:

Dear God, I know that no matter how bleak the outlook seems …
there is yet more.
Because You are by my side.
I have reason to hope.
I have reason to believe in more.
Dear God, You are the more in my life.

In Jesus Christ’s name … Amen

POSITIVE DAILY AFFIRMATION:
After my dark always comes my dawn!

POSITIVE DAILY QUOTE:
“Beware of the stories you read or tell; subtly, at night, beneath the waters of consciousness, they are altering your world.”
Ben Okri

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