Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘Into your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke 23:44-46)

It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming

The death of Jesus was the most tragic event in history. An innocent man was condemned to die for envy and hatred. Unjustly judged and treated with contempt, Jesus suffered the most humiliating death known to man. It was the greatest miscarriage of justice. The accusers did not realize the victim was dying for them. Crucifixion was the most heinous method of death by torture created by evil men. When Jesus was offered a mild anesthetic to ease the pain, He refused. He would drink the cup of God’s wrath in full fury.

Jesus suffered and died on Friday. Everything leading up to His arrest, conviction, and trials were managed by the will of the Father. It was not by chance Jesus died on Friday. His mission was not completed with the circumstances of human will. Jesus knew He would die and rise from the grave on the third day. When He knew the hour had come, Jesus began the slow process of facing the cross and His death.

Arrested on Thursday evening and taken to the Jewish leadership and Roman authorities, the Son of God stood on Golgotha around 9:00 am Friday. His death would come some six hours later. The world was bathed in darkness. When He died, the earth quaked, and rocks were split open. In the Temple, the priest was serving at that hour, witnessing the massive veil in the Temple rend from top to bottom with a great noise. Everything in creation reacted to the death of its Creator. It was Friday, and Jesus was dead.

The disciples forsook Jesus. Those gathered at the cross beat their breasts as they returned home. Joseph and Nicodemus received permission from Pilate to take the body of Jesus and place it in a tomb. The tomb where Jesus was laid was a new tomb. It was sealed with a great stone, and a Roman guard was placed at the request of the Jewish council. Saturday was a day of high Sabbath. The disciples mourned. They were lost in their thoughts to what it all meant for their Lord to be dead. Saturday passed. Sabbath was over.

On the first day of the week, the greatest miracle man would ever know took place in solitude. God raised His Son from the dead, releasing Him from the tomb. The stone was rolled back, the garments Jesus wore in the burial were neatly arranged inside the empty tomb, and Heaven shouted forth in glorious tones of heavenly joy. It was the first day of the week. Friday was a death of death and darkness, but the first day of the week was a day of life and light. Jesus had risen from the dead.

There is much to say about what happened on Friday, but Sunday was coming. The sting of death invaded the body of Jesus on Friday. On the first day of the week, the sting of death was defeated. Friday was a day that Satan thought he gained victory. Sunday was the day when Satan learned his greatest defeat. On the day when the cross gained its greatest victim, the world was in darkness. When Sunday came, the cross gave its greatest victory. Jesus could not be held by death. His body would not see corruption. Hades had no power over Jesus. It was Friday, but Sunday was coming.

The glory of the first day of the week is when God wants His people to worship in praise and majesty the good news of what happened on the first day of the week. We call it Sunday. This is the day Jesus rose from the dead. Fifty days later, on the first day of the week, three thousand Jews rose from the grave of water baptism to be ushered into the kingdom of God. The first day of the week was the day the early church assembled to worship. They praised God for His salvation on Sunday by remembering what happened on Friday.

Jesus had to die. He died on Friday. When He died, He knew Sunday was coming. God had promised to raise Him from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus is the greatest miracle man will see. There can be no greater evidence of God’s love, His grace, mercy, and truth. Sunday is not just any day. That is the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead.