In the early part of the 70's, John Heberling a preacher for one of the sister churches in the area, was the speaker for our church in White City which was hosting a week long meeting before Easter. Jim and I were scheduled to bring the special music on Friday and John's message was entitled "The Eighth Day!" Neither of us had ever heard the first day of the week called that before and so Jim decided to write a song.
Not seeking fame and fortune we sang it at our local church and occasionally other places during the Easter seasons. Here are the words to "The Eighth Day;" perhaps you can imagine the guitar and the music as you read it. (1st) "On the first day, they were heard to shout and sing; loud hosannas to Jesus Christ their king. Their sorrow was passed, the Messiah at last; on the first day, on the first day, on the first day." (chorus) "But the Eighth Day, was the day His triumph came; on the Eighth Day Jesus rose to live again; on the Eighth Day, the Gospel was complete; on the Eighth Day!" (2nd) "He cleared the temple, drove those peddlers to the street; healed a blind man, cured the sick and blessed the meek. Then sorrowed was He out in dark Gethsemane; on the fifth day, on the fifth day, on the fifth day." (chorus) 3rd) Here the tempo changes a little. "On the sixth day they nailed my savior to the tree; on the sixth day Jesus died for you and me. His death and His pain saved our souls from the flames; on the sixth day, on the sixth day, on the sixth day." (chorus)
We have watched movies in the past which tell His story like; "King of Kings;" "The Greatest Story Ever Told;" and "The Day of Triumph" which was one of my all time favorites. Within the last years "The Passion" thrilled the Christian world as it depicted Christ in the throws of anguish and pain as He suffered on the cross for you and me. It brought it into perspective and full reality that couldn't be denied.
Jim and I visited the Garden tomb in Jerusalem and felt His presence there. We looked upon the place where they had laid our Savior and felt desolation and joy at the same time. He died but the grave couldn't hold Him. We could almost see Him bursting from the grave cloths and the angels rolling the huge stone away and watched as He strolled through the door. WOW! What a Savior! What a Messiah! Our Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
Last night was "Good Friday." Many congregations had special programs showing His death; telling the scriptural story; choirs sing songs that tear at our hearts as we lived through the pain and felt the shame. Was there no other way Lord? How could this be; could my sins be that bad? Forgive me Lord, for the pain I have caused! We remembered our Savior on the cross; we remembered His last words spoken of which many sermon's have been given. We remember the blood, the sweat and the anguish; and I thought; He did this for me!
Some believe it is called Good Friday because God is good. I understand that "God be with you" was eventually shortened to "Good-bye." Perhaps Good Friday was originally God's Friday. Or perhaps it was called Good Friday because the tragedy that occurred, brought about the greatest good there could ever be. Perhaps that is why Christianity confesses the Christian hope that no tragedy, not even death, can overwhelm God's providence; love and grace. I read that somewhere and decided it works for me!
"The son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men and they will kill Him and He will be raised on the third day." Matthew 17:22b-23a "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24a On the Eighth Day His triumph was complete. He broke the chains of death and became free. In Jesus Christ we break the chains that bind us and we become free. By Jane Ann Crenshaw 3/24/10
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