HIS SUFFERING TURNS INTO OUR SWEETNESS
Christians from all over the world call today Good Friday. What could be good about the crucifixion, suffering, and death of Jesus? Biblical scholars believe the book of Isaiah was written between 739 and 681 B.C. In this book, Isaiah prophesied this about the coming Messiah, Jesus. In Isaiah 53:5, NIV, the prophet said, "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed."
His punishment brought us peace. His wounds brought us healing.
Amazingly, many people think more about Cadbury eggs, chocolate bunnies, and jelly beans on Easter than the suffering and sacrificial death of our Savior. But if we are going to think about sweetness this Easter, my mind is drawn to a cake that was so good I can still remember eating it many years ago. This cake is called a coconut crème poke cake. If that cake could come to life, I’m certain the first thing it would do is ask, “Why?” "Why am I being pierced and wounded by my creator? Why am I being broken? What did I do to deserve this? Other cakes are not being afflicted in this way. Why?"
The reason is that the cake's creator has a special purpose for this particular cake. Each wound, each broken place, each empty hole is going to be filled with the sweetest filling that will permeate throughout the entire batter. The broken places are what contain the sweetness.
The crucifixion of Jesus and the life we receive resulting from His wounds remind me of that cake. Jesus was pierced for us. I enter into the death He died on my behalf in order to experience the sweetness of God's forgiveness and the power of His resurrection. I become united with Him. When I do that, I receive something others will never know. The Holy Spirit fills those pierced, empty places with a sweetness the world cannot comprehend. The broken places are not wounds; they are pathways to blessing. The holes become holiness. The suffering turns into sweetness. It is indeed a Good Friday.
