Lance on the Importance of "Good Friday"

Again, I recommend that you read the latest eNews. 

Lance's title is, Don't Rush by Good Friday."

I have no interest in commenting on the blog, but two thoughts occurred to me even from simply reading the title. Here are some of my musings:

1. In our blessed, thriving movement days, I think Maundy Thursday was a huuuuuge deal. And, I don't think we gave any thought to observing Good Friday.

I'm convinced that it's the reason why we were into Thursday and not Friday that separates our blessedness in that day from the fact that, today, the Lord of all authority and power and blessing no longer blesses us.

For our founders, Jesus commanded that we wash each others feet, hence our Maundy Thursday gathering.

For our founders, the example and teachings and, especially, the commands of Jesus meant EVERYTHING.

Certainly, there's no evidence that Jesus commanded a Good Friday observance and there's no evidence that early disciples did it.

But, Jesus did say, "Now that I your Lord and teacher have washed your feet,  so you must wash one another's feet."

For our founders, what we do comes directly from Jesus and the New Testament plan.

For us, today? Where does what we do come from? Not there.

2. The way we "worship" is devastating us spiritually.

To be clear, Lance isn't suggesting necessarily advocating that we attend Good Friday services. He's suggesting that we recall the suffering, the humiliation of Jesus.

Lance says, "It's in His suffering that we find the full expression of His love for us."

When New Testament disciples gathered, it was impossible for them to forget His suffering.

In every gathering, they took the Lord's Supper and recalled that He said, "This is my body which is broken for you..."

And, I don't think we realize how important the simple proclamation of the gospel was in the New Testament gathering.

They focused every time they gathered on what we highlight on Good Friday.

Early in our movement in particular, Good Friday was every Sunday.

So, please, don't rush by Good Friday but, better still, be people of the gospel.