Dear Family and Friends,

Most of you know that we are in Los Angeles to support our daughter who is with child for another week or so. The second and just as important reason for our trip is to spend precious time with Luke, our grandson. It’s been wonderful. 

Okay, I have to brag. Several times now we have been engrossed in a project, like Legos, when his nana or mommy would call us for lunch or dinner. I have never seen a child so intent on finishing what he’s started. He just cannot bring himself to stop. No cajoling or bribery can stop him from finishing what he’s started.

Luke’s tenacity to finish will serve him well in the future. This tenacity to finish reminds me of another fellow who displayed a similar trait. His name is Jesus.

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” John 19:28-30

Jesus’ last words – it is finished. In Greek, it was one word, Tetelestai, which means, according to Strong’s Concordance, to bring to an end, complete, fulfill, accomplish and to pay. Jesus did all of these. He brought an end to satan’s absolute reign.

He completed what He set out to do: “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” John 17:4

Jesus fulfilled every one of the 300+ messianic scriptures pointing to Christ found in the Old Testament.

Jesus’ major accomplishment was the establishment of God’s Kingdom here on earth. And, of course, we all know that He paid for our sins.

Any one of these would qualify as a good reason to call today Good Friday, and Jesus finished them all.

Furthermore, Jesus finished his work while keeping true to God’s nature of love.

Jesus did all that He did with love, out of love, and for love. 

Permit me to brag again. The other day, Luke came up to me, grabbed me around my knees, looked up and said, “I love you Papa.”

I did not ask or prompt him to say it. I did nothing to earn it. He just decided to tell me he loved me and added that he loved Nana too! My heart melted.

That same childlike love is what God yearns to hear from us. As you go about your Good Friday today, in addition to remembering all that Jesus went through, remember why He did it – love.

Allow your love for Jesus to overflow. Go ahead and tell Jesus that you love Him. That one simple heartfelt phrase not only says it all, it will melt His heart.

In love always,