This week we’re having multiple services for Holy Week.  We’ll start with a traditional Good Friday afternoon service that will look at “The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross.”  It will be a shorter service consisting largely of Scripture readings and prayers.  It will be followed by a Good Friday evening service, with further meditations on the “Seven Last Words” from Pastor Charles Biggs of Ketoctin Covenant OPC.  All the links for both services can be found on our website – www.potomachills.org.

So, why are we having these services on Good Friday?  After all, Good Friday is not really good because ‘good’ is too neutral a term.  The events of Good Friday are the ultimate paradox — at once atrocious and wonderful, scandalous and beautiful, the worst kind of hate and the best kind of love.  On this day we were convicted and pardoned, condemned and freed, cursed and blessed.

It was the darkest day.  To His disciples – those who had forsaken everything in order to follow Jesus – this day was the opposite of good.  The man, in who they had put all their hope, was hanging dead on a tree.  This was the death of their faith, the crushing of their hope, and the end of all they believed in.  Or so it seemed … “There was no way around Good Friday, only a way through – through the pain and death and burial.  It is the same for us; we cannot get around this day.  We must go through the pain and death and burial to get to the resurrection.  We must go through the darkness of Good Friday to get to the light” of Easter Sunday. (adapted from Journey to the Cross by Will Walker)

And then on Sunday, we’ll be back in The Gospel of Mark.  As it’s Easter, we’re jumping ahead to the text on The Resurrection of Christ in Mark 16:1-8.  Once again, I’ll be coming to you via video again this Sunday.  On Saturday we’ll post all the links and everything you need to worship on Sunday at our website – www.potomachills.org – just click on the “latest sermon” link.

We should be grateful for the technology that allows us to meet online.  But I’m looking forward to the day when we can worship together again.  I hope you are too.  However, since this whole situation is out of our control, instead of resisting this state of affairs, let’s rest in the One who’s still with His people by the Spirit, through the Word, and in prayer.  For if we can trust Him with our own lives, shouldn’t we also trust Him with the life of the church that He bought with His own blood?  So don’t just listen to a message about Easter this week.  Put the meaning of Easter into practice.  After all, since Christ is risen (He is risen indeed), you can rest in Him.  Have a great Resurrection Sunday.  Dr. Dave