What you need to know about Good Friday.

Today marks the most important day in history, as this is the day that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross for humanity's sins.

Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot (one of His disciples) for 30 pieces of sliver. He was arrested and interrogated. He was questioned by a High Priest, who asked him: "I adjure you, by the Living God, to tell us, are you the Anointed One, the Son of God?" Jesus answered: "You have said it, and in time, you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Almighty, coming on the clouds of Heaven." The priest condemned Jesus for blasphemy and sentenced Him to death. He was brought to Pontius Pilate who then gave leaders the authority to judge Jesus based on their own laws.
When Pilate learned that Jesus was from Galilee, he referred the case to the King Herod, the leader from Galilee. Jesus said nothing during questioning. He was then given back to Pilate. Pilate ordered Jesus to be whipped and released. Priests urged a crowd to demand that Jesus should be crucified. After Pilate's wife had a dream about Jesus, she told Pilate to have "nothing to do with this righteous man." Chief priests informed Pilate that Jesus should be sentenced to death for claiming to be God's Son. Pilate asked Jesus where he came from. After questioning, Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd and declared Jesus to be innocent. He washed his hands in water to show that he wants no part in Jesus' condemning. Regardless, Jesus was handed over to be crucified, in an attempt to avoid rioting.

Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours. During his final hours on the cross, darkness spread over the land. Jesus quoted Psalm 22, saying: "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" Following a loud cry, Jesus gave up His Spirit. Subsequently, there was an earthquake, where tombs shattered open and a curtain in the Temple was ripped from top to bottom (This symbolizes a removal of restriction of the common Jews from the Temple's Holiest of Holies, and that God's people can communicate directly with Jesus instead of using a moderator like a Priest). In Matthew 27 45:54, it is written "Truly this was God's Son."
A secret follower of Jesus went to Pilate after the crucification and requested the body of Jesus. Pilate wanted proof that Jesus was dead, and the follower informed Pilate that Jesus was dead (Mark 15:45) The follow took Jesus' body, wrapped it in linen and placed Jesus' body in the tomb, along with 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. A large rock was rolled over the entrance of the tomb.
Three days later, on Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the tomb ("He is not here; He has risen, just as He said..." Matthew 27:60).

In my personal life, I have always had a strained relationship with God. I had trouble fitting in at Church in the past, and whenever something bad happened, I would think I wasn't worthy of being a child of God. Last Sunday, for the first time in nearly 10 years, I went back to Church. It also happened to be the day Holy Week started. I've realized that throughout everything in my life, Jesus has always been with me. I haven't been alone. He has just been waiting for me to realize it.
Coming back to my faith is something that had to happen on its own. I'm not someone who would shove anything down people's throats; I know what it's like. Coming to Christ is a personal decision that is made between yourself and God. He wants you to be yourself. He doesn't want smoky mirrors. He doesn't want a show or a performance. He wants who YOU are at YOUR core. None of us are perfect and we ALL fall short. The importance of today is that God sent his only Son Jesus to die for us on the Cross. All I can do this morning is thank Him.

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