Good Friday

Proverbs 6, Mark 9, 2 Corinthians 13, Galatians 1

Proverbs 6:23 - For these commands and this teaching are a lamp to light the way ahead of you. The correction of discipline is the way to life.

Why didn't Jesus, when driving out all evil spirits, command the evil spirit leave that person "and never enter him again" like He did in Mark 9:25? Was it just implied in all the other cases, or did this boy get an extra special blessing when Jesus drove the demon out of him?

Sometimes we give the Jews (particularly the Pharisees) a hard time about not realizing Jesus was the Messiah. However, in Mark 9:31, Jesus tells His disciple's plainly that He will be betrayed, killed, and raised on the third day. But in Mark 9:32 we see that even His own disciples didn't understand what He meant. Wow, it is scary how much we can know about Christ and even be around Jesus without really knowing Him and His Will. How then, are we able to understand Him? It is only by His gracious self-revelation coupled with His promise in Jeremiah 29:
12 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
14 'I will be found by you,' declares the LORD

Paul's conclusion of 2 Corinthians has several strong statements:
3 I will give you all the proof you want that Christ speaks through me. Christ is not weak when he deals with you; he is powerful among you. 4 Although he was crucified in weakness, he now lives by the power of God. We, too, are weak, just as Christ was, but when we deal with you we will be alive with him and will have God's power. 5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.

8 For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth. 9 ... We pray that you will become mature. ... 11 Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. ... 14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Paul's introduction to Galatians has a wonderful summary of the Gospel that is fitting for this Good Friday:
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. 5 All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.

As I think about Christ's betrayal and crucifixion, I am reminded of Isaiah 53.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross for my sins. Thank you, Jesus, for paying the debt that I could not pay - a debt that you did not owe. May I be overwhelmed by your incredible mercy and grace - the love that you have so benevolently demonstrated. May I live in response to this immeasurable gift you have given. May I live to glorify your Name, because all glory belongs to the One True God, forever and ever. Amen.