April 8 – Calvary (Good Friday)
by Renè Holt
Read: Crucified Between Two Criminals (Matthew 27:32-44)
The Death of Jesus (Matthew 27:45-54)
Key Verses: But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. (Matthew 27:50-51)
Calvary is central to the Good News we have as Christians. Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary allows us to experience a life filled with love, joy, and hope, saved through grace by His death. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). This old hymn reminds us that Christ’s death on the cross has created a way for all who choose it to have eternal life.
At Calvary
by William R. Newell (1895)
Years I spent in vanity and pride, caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died on Calvary.
Vanity—being excessively proud of one’s self, or possessions (Eccles. 2:15)
Pride—the attitude that one is better than others (Isa. 2:17; 1 John 2:16)
By God’s Word at last my sin I learned; then I trembled at the law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned to Calvary
God’s Word—the Bible, which teaches us what sin is (Rom. 3:20)
Trembled – shook with great fear or anxiety (Ps. 99:1)
Now I’ve given to Jesus everything. Now I gladly own Him as my King,
Now my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary
Raptured—the state of being carried away with joy or love
A raptured soul is filled with great joy and delight. (Heb. 13:15)
Sing—what we do because God commands it and it brings joy
(Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:18-19)
Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan! Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary.
The mighty gulf—”For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:9)
Mercy there was great, and grace was free; pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8).
Multiplied—Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. (Jude 1:2, NIV)