Today is the Day | A Good Friday Reflection

Today is the day. A man known to humans as Jesus, a man who God, the Father, calls Son, carried His cross to Calvary. There, he hung from it, beaten, scoured, bleeding, and bruised, all in order to reconcile us, the Creator’s Creation, to God Himself.

Some 2,000 years ago, this man called Jesus paid the debt for all of our sins—-past, present, and future—-once and for all, forevermore. He could do this because as fully God and fully man, Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life. Therefore, Christ was the perfect, unblemished atoning sacrifice able to bridge the gap —-the Great Chasm—that stood between God and humankind.

If you know anything about me then you know I love the Psalms. So did Jesus, I believe. It’s the book He seems to quote most often throughout the Gospels. I love the Psalms so much that I’ve even written a few of my own.

This morning, as we reflect on Good Friday, I want to share one of the Messianic Psalms—Psalm 22—with you. If you get a chance this weekend, I encourage you to read Psalms 22,23, and 24 aloud in one sitting without pausing between them. You will see Jesus as the sacrifice, the shepherd, and the sovereign.

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Psalm 22

From Suffering to Praise: For the choir director: according to “The Deer of the Dawn.” A Davidic psalm.

My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from my deliveranceand from my words of groaning? My God, I cry by day, but You do not answer,by night, yet I have no rest. But You are holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You;they trusted, and You rescued them. They cried to You and were set free;they trusted in You and were not disgraced.

But I am a worm and not a man,scorned by men and despised by people. Everyone who sees me mocks me;they sneer and shake their heads: “He relies on the Lord; let Him rescue him;let the Lord deliver him,since He takes pleasure in him.” You took me from the womb,making me secure while at my mother’s breast. I was given over to You at birth;You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

Do not be far from me, because distress is nearand there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me;strong ones of Bashan encircle me. They open their mouths against me—lions, mauling and roaring. I am poured out like water,and all my bones are disjointed; my heart is like wax,melting within me. My strength is dried up like baked clay;my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.You put me into the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me;a gang of evildoers has closed in on me;they pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones;people look and stare at me. They divided my garments among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.

But You, Lord, don’t be far away.My strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword,my only life from the power of these dogs. Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued mefrom the horns of the wild oxen. I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; I will praise You in the congregation. You who fear Yahweh, praise Him!All you descendants of Jacob, honor Him!All you descendants of Israel, revere Him! For He has not despised or detestedthe torment of the afflicted. He did not hide His face from himbut listened when he cried to Him for help.

I will give praise in the great congregationbecause of You; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear You. The humble will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise Him. May your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth will rememberand turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will bow down before You, for kingship belongs to the Lord; He rules over the nations.

All who prosper on earth will eat and bow down;all those who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—even the one who cannot preserve his life. Their descendants will serve Him; the next generation will be told about the Lord. They will come and tell a people yet to be bornabout His righteousness—what He has done.

Psalm 22:1-31 (HCSB)

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I pray that you get to spend some rich, quality time with the Lord this weekend as you focus your heart, mind, and soul on Jesus. My prayer for you is that you would encounter Jesus in a new way that you’ve never encountered Him before and that through that fresh encounter you are transformed and drawn nearer to Christ, our God and King.

Blessings,

Rainer Bantau

The Devotional Guy™

Biography: Rainer Bantau is a husband, mentor, and storyteller whose passion is helping people draw closer to Jesus. After rededicating his life to Christ in 2007, he has shared God’s Word in churches across Texas and walked alongside others as a trusted guide in their faith journeys. A visual artist, Rainer’s work has been shown throughout the state, often reflecting themes of hope, redemption, and the beauty of God’s creation. Rainer also writes The Devotional Guy™ blog, where he encourages readers to hold fast to their faith through life’s joys and struggles. He and his wife, Terri, make their home in Richardson, Texas, where they live next door to her parents and enjoy the company of a lively menagerie of pets. Grateful for God’s grace, Rainer seeks to live each day in a way that leaves a legacy of faith for future generations.

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