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Dear Friends,

Good Friday marks the culmination of Lent and it prefaces the joy of Easter Sunday. It's a day steeped in reflection, penitence, and gratitude for the sacrifice Christ made on the cross. Even so, it is vital that we not view this day through a lens of mourning, but through a lens of victory.

In John 12:32, Jesus says, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." This verse not only references the manner of Jesus' death but also encapsulates the magnetic pull of His love and sacrifice, drawing us closer to the heart of God.

The act of being "lifted up" serves a dual purpose in the Johannine narrative. Historically, it points to the physicality of the crucifixion, where Christ was elevated on the cross. Symbolically, it represents the exaltation of Jesus, signifying that through His suffering and death, the final victory over sin and death is achieved. It's a moment that transcends time, reaching forward and backward to draw all of creation to its Creator.

This promise of drawing all to Himself is not just a demonstration of Christ's sovereign power but an invitation to experience the depth of God's love. It signifies a divine magnetism, an irresistible call to those far and near, to come and find their true home in the embrace of the Savior. This call is universal, extending beyond the boundaries of time, space, and human divisions. It speaks of a love that is as expansive as it is personal, beckoning each of us by name.

Good Friday, then, becomes not just a day of mourning but also one of profound hope. It reminds us that the cross is not the end but a passage—a gateway to a new life marked by grace, forgiveness, and eternal communion with God. The cross stands as a testament to the fact that the darkest moment in history could not extinguish the light of God's love but rather amplified it to draw all humanity into its warmth and radiance.

As we reflect on the cross this Good Friday, let's meditate on the magnetic love of Christ that draws us to Him. It's a love that endured the agony of the cross, bore the weight of our sins, and triumphed over the grave, not for His own sake but for ours. This sacrificial love invites us to lay down our burdens, our sins, and our brokenness at the foot of the cross and to take up the new life Christ offers us.

Let this day be one of deep spiritual renewal as we ponder the gravity of Christ's sacrifice and the magnitude of His love. May we respond to His gracious invitation to be drawn to Him, to experience the fullness of life He offers, and to share this unending love with those around us. In the shadow of the cross, may we find true renewal, hope, and a love that never lets us go.