To all who feel hopeless or weighed down, hear this: the cross of Christ is not the end. As we walk through Matthew 27, we don’t just remember Jesus’ agony—we receive the truth that his sacrifice made restoration possible. In him, even death itself is undone. That’s the power and the promise of Good Friday.

As we prepare for family, services, and joyful celebration, let’s not forget that Thursday held moments of deep sorrow, challenge, and love. Join me in reflecting on the final evening Jesus spent with his disciples, and let it shape how we celebrate what’s to come.

On this quiet Saturday before the hallelujahs of the resurrection, what are we willing to ponder as we pause at the grave of Jesus?

They remind us of our actions and behavior toward the sin of others, the promise of eternal life, our relationships with family, our loneliness in times of struggle, our thirst for God, the reality of what we can and can’t do, and our complete surrender.

Over and over Jesus allowed sinful man to bind him, lead him, send him, take him, flog him, strike him, deliver him, and crucify him. No resistance, only humility and surrender motivated by love.