" Sacrifice ... "

I tell you one lesson I learned

If you want to be something in life

You ain't gonna get it unless

You give a little bit of sacrifice

Ooohh, sometimes before you smile you got to cry

You need a heart that's filled with music

If you use it you can fly

If you want to be high

~ The Roots ~ Sacrifice ~ 

***

Most people I know are thankful to have this long weekend.  A break from the daily grind to spend time doing what they wish they were doing when they are working.  But this weekend is not your ordinary long weekend.  This weekend is because of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

From a place of compassion and love, 

I wanted to learn more about this paramount moment within the Christian faith ... 

I understand that Good Friday marks the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world, but what didn't make sense was why call it “good” then?  Well I found that the term Good Friday might be a bit confusing if you associate good with happy.  Good Friday isn’t a happy day, but its name is a reminder that humans can only be considered “good” because of what happened on that day.  This significant Friday is a day of mourning and sorrow over Jesus’s sacrificial death ... a day of gratitude for the supreme sacrifice that He made. 

It is even believed that the original name was God’s Friday, which over the years became what it is today.  To this day, in Europe, some call it Holy, Great, Black, Sorrowful or Quiet Friday as well.

And depending on your origin, there are differences as to how the anniversary is acknowledged.    Whether it is fasting, praying, street processions, kite flying, or draping oneself in black, most Christians hold subdued service inclusive of solemn hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, messages, along side an observance of the Lord’s Supper.  

Easter Sunday is the resurrection of Jesus.  It is believed that three days after his death on the cross, He came back to life and through is death burial and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins.

I will be honest ... wondering how is it possible that the sacrifice of one man be enough to redeem the gruesome sins of mankind?  Truly, our sins are many.  But they are limited, and His sacrifice is an eternal one by which we receive an eternal reward, that removes the consequences of our sinful nature.  Hence not only making it possible, but making it so.

We all have the freedom of choice .... and there are many who freely choose to reject this gift but there are also many who accept it.  Yet regardless of our response to this offering, the gift was generously offered for the redemption of all.  This gift is the manifestation of perfect love.  

So, ultimately if we accept this amazing gift, we can conform our lives to goodness, we can live in perfect love, we can celebrate the unity of brotherhood and respectfully be in gratitude ...