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L O A D I N G

It’s Friday. But Sunday’s coming

March 18, 2016

Pastor Jack Van de Hoef
The snow has gotten deep in the last couple of weeks. But Spring is coming!
In the warm sun, just over 2 weeks ago, the daffodils were peeking up out of the ground. Now they are nowhere to be seen. But Spring is coming!
The green grass is covered. The winter chill is in the air. But Spring is coming!
The sadness, discouragement and pain that is so much a part of our lives and of our world is sometimes described as the winter of our souls. But we also know the resurrection victory of Jesus! There is new life. Hope. Victory.
This was expressed in a lesson by S. M. Lockridge, a prominent African-American preacher (1913-2000), entitled, “It’s Friday. But Sunday’s Coming!” The narrative of Jesus’ crucifixion is one of betrayal, denial, cowardice, envy, hate, brutality, suffering, despair, defeat, death.

Christians celebrate the cross because the story does not end on that fateful Friday. It does not end at the cross. The irony of the cross is that the very instrument Jesus’ enemies used to defeat Him became His greatest victory. Little did they know when Friday ended what would happen on Sunday to change the course of the world’s history.

Here is part of that famous sermon by Lockridge. As you read this, just remember that regardless of what today brings, regardless of today’s problems, challenges or defeats, remember that Sunday’s coming!

I know it’s Friday. But thanks be to God that Sunday’s coming! It’s Friday. Jesus is praying. Peter is sleeping. Judas is betraying. But Sunday’s comin’. It’s Friday. The disciples are running like sheep without a shepherd. Mary is crying. Peter is denying. But they don’t know that Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. See Jesus walking to Calvary. His blood dripping. His body stumbling. And his spirit’s burdened. But you see, it’s only Friday. Sunday’s comin’.
It’s Friday. The world’s winning. People are sinning. And evil’s grinning. But Sunday’s comin’.
It’s Friday. He’s hanging on the cross. Feeling forsaken by his Father. Left alone and dying. Can nobody save him? It’s Friday. But Sunday’s comin’.
It’s Friday. The earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My King yields his spirit.
It’s Friday. Hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered. and Satan’s just a laughin’.
It’s Friday. Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard. And a rock is rolled into place. But it’s Friday. It is only Friday. Sunday is a comin’!

“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” 1 Corinthians 15:57

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