It’s Friday…but Sunday’s coming.

S.M. Lockridge is one of my favorite go-to preachers when I just want to get lost in the person of Jesus the Christ. He pastored for over forty years, mostly at Calvary Baptist Church in Sand Diego. The conclusion of his sermon “That’s my King” (“do you know Him?”) has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times as it lives on via the internet, and if you haven’t seen it, you ought to stop reading this blog and go watch that video. 

Each year during Holy Week as I mark off the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, my heart and mind returns to Lockridge’s sermon “It’s Friday…but Sunday’s coming.” As he reflected on the evils leading to Jesus’ death (“It’s Friday. The world is winning, people are sinning, evil is grinning. It’s Friday…but Sunday’s coming.”) Lockridge reminded his hearers that even though things look bad, Resurrection Day was just a few days from now. 

Yesterday, news broke that another of our Southern Baptist leaders had fallen morally. For about 24 hours now, I have grieved for him, his family, whomever else was involved, and for the reputation of Jesus’ people in our increasingly hostile culture. Sin has waylaid another fellow pilgrim, and I hate it. 

So, as I contemplated the news and my own inclinations toward sin, I needed to get  lost in the person of Jesus the Christ. He is my King, and He has won. His resurrection, celebrated this Sunday in most of the western churches, has changed everything. No matter where you are or what you’ve done, Jesus’ victory is enough for those who trust in Him. And, I find that when I am in a grieving state, I need to be reminded that Jesus is my all in all. 

Today, things may look dark. Today, leaders may stumble in sin. Today, a doctor might diagnose you with a disease. Today, bills might come due. Today, children might wander. Today, “the world is winning, people are sinning, [and] evil is grinning.” It’s Friday…but Sunday’s coming.
 
In Him,
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pastor Jim