good friday

                    He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we 

                    should desire him....
                    Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low 

                    esteem.

                    Surely he took up our pain  and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by 

                    God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
                    But he was pierced for our transgressions...the punishment that brought us peace was on 

                    him, and by his wounds we are healed....

                    He was assigned a grave with the wicked...though he had done no violence, nor was any 

                    deceit in his mouth.

                    After he has suffered, he will see the light of life...by his knowledge my righteous servant 

                    will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities....
                    He poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.  For he bore 

                    the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 

                    Isaiah 53

******

I do not like Good Friday.  It is sobering.  It is not a "fun" holiday.  As painful as the splinters in my hand were this afternoon when we were building our garden beds, they were nothing in comparison to the nails in His hands that day.  And he bore the pain for me.  And for you.

I don't like Good Friday.

But without Friday, there would be no Sunday.
So today I am thankful for Good Friday. 
Because Friday led to Sunday.
Hallelujah.