Holy Week Reflections: Good Friday and Black Saturday

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FRIDAY : THE FIFTH: "I am thirsty." Even In The Midst Of Our Most Difficult Experience, Obedience Must Still Be Complete, Satisfactory And Scriptural.
John 19:28: After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty." 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to His mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit. NASB
Most people miss the point that when Jesus said: I AM THIRSTY, He was fully in control of His thirst and did not cry out of desperation. Read the text again and note that before the words I AM THIRSTY you will read these words: Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said.. Jesus was aware that everything had been accomplished except for one: the prophecy said He would speak of thirst so to fulfill the Scripture, He said I AM THIRSTY.
Obedience is easier when times are good and when pressure is absent. Obedience becomes difficult when we are under pressure and under persecution and under extreme pain. Jesus was going through the worst pain He would experience in this world. But, in the midst of all that, He remembered to obey completely, fully and Scripturally. What an example! Have you ever been empted to disobey and dishonor God because of a painful episode in your life? Are you gong through something so difficult and are you tempted to disobey? Fight the urge! Obey even when it very painful! Lesson: Obedience is the measure of our love and respect for the Lord. Therefore, obey at all times. Walang kapalit ang pagiging masunurin sa Diyos.

SATURDAY : THE SIXTH: "It is finished!" No Difficulty, However Terrible, Can Take Away From Us Our Victory. In The End, We Win.
John 19: 29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to His mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.
The sixth and seventh sayings cannot be separated from each other for they were clearly spoken in almost the same span of a few seconds. Jesus had battled the worst pain, resisted the worst fear, defeated the worst enemy and although bloody and held in place on the cross by old-fashioned nails hammered by cruel people, He knew without a shadow of a doubt that victory had been achieved. He said: IT IS FINISHED. The fight for eternity is over. The greatest defeat has been inflicted on Satan. God’s will prevailed and the elect are secure in their salvation. Knowing all this, Jesus said: IT IS FINISHED.
Jesus, in effect, remained in control to the very end. Referring to His assigned tasks, He says: IT IS FINISHED. Was it an easy journey? It was not. Was it a fight with weak enemies? It was not. But, through it all, Jesus won. On that Old Rugged Cross, He won! Rightly so, He said: IT IS FINISHED, which is another way of saying: The victory is assured for the elect of God. Lesson: Don’t be dismayed by the gravity of the challenges in front of you. One day, you will overcome everything and you will say IT IS FINISHED. The Victory is yours!