Steve Whinery

What’s So Good About Good Friday?

When I was a teenager, I started paying attention to what Easter was really about. Before that, I thought Easter was all about bunnies, eggs, candy, and a new pair of jeans.

Once I actually began to understand the holiday, I ran into the term “Good Friday.” We all know that’s the day Jesus died on the cross. At first, I had no idea why Christians would call it “good.”

It seemed like such a waste. What potential Jesus had! What could have happened if He had lived a long life? I was in that crowd because I didn’t yet understand the plan. Here it is:

“Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
— Matthew 20:18–19

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
— John 3:14–17

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
— 1 Peter 3:18

It was the sacrificial death of the only truly righteous man who ever lived — taking my place in judgment so that I could take His place in reward. All of that is good for me. But was it good for Jesus?

When it comes to Christian holidays, I try to be sensitive to those who are struggling. Holidays can be especially hard when you’re walking through pain — betrayal, the loss of a spouse or friend, the death of a loved one, an empty seat at the table, an ache in your heart.

One of the wonderful things about following Jesus is that we don’t have a Lord “who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses.” All the men who followed Jesus abandoned Him. He had given of Himself for years, and in the end, they all walked away. Have you ever experienced that — people you care about walking away? Jesus did.

Two of His close friends openly betrayed Him: one with a kiss for the crowd, the other after loudly professing his loyalty. “Jesus, you’re the best!” … “I don’t have anything to do with the man!” Have you ever experienced that? Jesus did.

In fact, on that very day, the only two people who defended Jesus at all barely knew Him. One condemned Him to death to please the crowd after a tepid defense. The other died not long after Him on a cross next to His.

Have you lost a child or a spouse? The Father lost His Son that day.
So yes — that day is absolutely good for me. Jesus took my sin. But was it good for the Lord?

All of this is to say: the Lord gets you. He is the Comforter. He comes alongside us and consoles us when we need it most.

That was a pretty bleak picture, so here’s the good news: Jesus Himself considered it a good day. The Bible says that for "the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame."

The men who abandoned Him were that joy. All of the disciples, except one, were restored. Judas had been poisoned by his own thoughts (or by the influence of others) and, sadly, never returned. (There’s a hard thing to handle). But for the rest, shame became joy, fear was replaced with unshakable trust, turmoil was traded for “a peace that passes understanding,” and the Man they betrayed became the One they loved above all others — even above themselves.

You were that joy too. Jesus on the cross, steady, eyes unflinching, looking down through the long ages at everyone who would follow Him — including you.

It’s Friday… but Sunday’s coming.

Are there biblical implications to the conflict in Iran?
Absolutely.
Iran is one of the nations mentioned, along with Turkey and Russia, in Ezekiel 38 as attacking the nation of Israel.
That passage teaches that when Israel is attacked by these nations, among others, that it will be a surprise attack against a peaceful and secure Israel.
The dismantling of the Iranian terrorist regime, may be one of those things that leads to the peace that the Bible speaks about in Ezekiel 38.
All that to say that while this is not the Ezekiel 38 battle, it may be the lead up to the political situation described before the battle takes place.
The New testament says that the world will be saying, "peace and safety," when sudden destruction comes upon them.
Jesus said, "when you see all these things begin to take place, look up for your redemption draws near."
Time to be about the Lord's business! Tell your friends about Jesus!

Israeli Attack on Iran:
The book of Ezekiel in the Bible speaks about a surprise attack on Israel by a coalition of nations including Iran, Russia and Turkey. Anytime there's a battle in the Mid East some start referring to the event as a fulfillment of the biblical battle.

I want to remind you that the passage says this is an unexpected attack. Israel is dwelling securely at the time.

Having said that, this is obviously an event that's influential in the runup to that surprise attack. Point being, the whole world is once again focused on Israel and Iran as a player in the events leading to the tribulation period. As Zechariah says:
"I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah." Zechariah 12:2 (NLT)

What's encouraging to me about this, is that Israel is taking out Iran's nuclear capability and their ability to wage a war of mass destruction, at least for a while. If Israel accomplishes what it wants to, this may bring a wave of peace in the Mid East.

Of course, that's the situation that the Bible describes when the actual Ezekiel war takes place. And you can see how this situation will further embitter the crazies in the Iranian government against Israel. They may end up switching tactics... "Next time let's do a surprise attack, instead of broadcasting our intentions..."

In any case, it looks like this will put off the "real" battle for a while.
Why would God allow all this? Here's why:
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

While I don't believe these events are the prophesied battle, it is obviously getting very, very close. God is giving people more time to turn to Him. In other passages, the return of Jesus for His Church is connected to the beginning of the Tribulation period and thus with the Ezekiel battle. Again, God is giving us more time. Are you ready for the return of Jesus? If He came for us today, would you be ready? He's giving warning after warning because He wants you to be with Him.

Listen up!

Thank you, Jesus! Praying for the new US Government.

Praying for America!

I was informed that only 16% of ballots had been turned in as of Sunday. That means your vote has the potential to make a difference. Time to vote, people! Turn your ballot in by tomorrow.😎

John Witherspoon was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was also a pastor. A little over a year before Independence Day he gave a sermon that has been judged to be one of the most influential of the time. Here's an exerpt in which he speaks of the importance of a true faith for the continuance of a free nation:

"...What I have here in view is to point out to you the concern which every good man ought to take in the national character and manners, and the means which he ought to use for promoting public virtue, and bearing down impiety and vice. This is a matter of the utmost moment, and which ought to be well understood, both in its nature and principles. Nothing is more certain than that a general profligacy and corruption of manners make a people ripe for destruction. A good form of government may hold the rotten materials together for some time, but beyond a certain pitch, even the best constitution will be ineffectual, and slavery must ensue. On the other hand, when the manners of a nation are pure, when true religion and internal principles maintain their vigour, the attempts of the most powerful enemies to oppress them are commonly baffled and disappointed. This will be found equally certain, whether we consider the great principles of God’s moral government, or the operation and influence of natural causes.
What follows from this? That he is the best friend to American liberty, who is most sincere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion, and who sets himself with the greatest firmness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind." The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men

Got another scammer from the 956 area code pretending to be me. It's not. Don't buy or give anything. Here's what the text looks like:

PART 2 🥳 JANUARY 18 @ 6:30