Todd, S.C., correspondence to Nature 401(6752):423, 30 Sept. 1999.

It was friday — dark, dark Friday. They nailed Him to the cross on Friday and put a crown of thorns on His head — on Friday. They put a spear wound in His side — on Friday. Judas betrayed Him. Peter denied Him. The disciples forsook Him. The Jews rejected Him, and the Romans crucified Him.

The sun veiled its face. The earth quaked and the heavens roared. It was Friday – dark, dark Friday.

We all have our dark Fridays, days when nothing seems to go right. But for Jesus and us, Resurrection morning was coming. Beyond the rejection, the betrayal, and the despair, Resurrection morning was on its way. Beyond the agony, the blood, and the tears, a glorious new day would dawn.

The sun rose on the Resurrection morning. The birds sang, and the Father spoke, “Son, Your Father calls You.”

Legions of Roman soldiers could not hold Him down now. In the brightness of heaven’s angles, they fell like dead men. The stone sealing the entrance rolled away like a pebble as the Son of God burst the bonds of the tomb. The shackles of death could not hold Him.

There is hope in despair. There is joy in the morning. Although there are dark, dark Fridays, the Resurrection points us to a glorious new day. Our Lord says, “Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19).

Whatever experience you are going through right now, there is hope. The resurrected Christ wants to do a “new thing” in your life. You may be going through despair. You may be experiencing some deep sorrow. You may face the diagnosis of a malignant tumour. You may have financial or marital difficulty. Your burdens may be so heavy it is difficult for you to bear them. You may even be ready to give up. The resurrected Christ knows. He understands. He is alive and from heaven’s sanctuary sends you a message of encouragement today.

Christ speaks in tenderest tones, “I understand. I will strengthen you. Hang on. A better day is coming.”

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5)

By Mark Finley – “Solid Ground”

What a thought – some one to always listen to us!

“‘Would you like me to read you something that is in the Bible?” “The wounded man said, ‘I am so thirsty, I would rather have a drink of water.” The chaplain hurried off, and as quickly as possible brought the water. “‘Could you lift my head and put something under it?” The chaplain removed his light overcoat, rolled it up, and tenderly lifting the head, put it as a pillow for the tired head to rest on. “‘Now, said the man, ‘if only I had something over me. I am so cold.’” There was only one thing the chaplain could do, and that was to take off his coat and cover the man. As he did so, the wounded man looked up in his face and said: “‘If there is anything in that book that makes a man do for another what you have done for me, let me hear it.’” Has anyone ever been led to love, and study God’s Word because of your life – something you did or something you said? Have others started on the journey to the kingdom because of you?

This is the real essence of Christianity!