A Good Friday message

There are many sermons that feature the events of Easter Sunday -- the Resurrection. There are many more that focus on the events during the day of Good Friday -- the Crucifixion.

There is one famous sermon that looks at the time between Jesus' entombment just before sunset on the sixth day of the Jewish week, and just before the start of the Sabbath. It was originally delivered by S.M. Lockridge, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in San Diego, Calif., many years ago.

Many pastors across the nation have borrowed it over the years, giving credit to its author, to deliver a message that there is hope even when all appears to be lost.

Here is Lockridge's short but powerful sermon, "It's Friday ... but Sunday's Comin'."

It’s Friday. Jesus is praying. Peter’s a sleeping. Judas is betraying. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. Pilate’s struggling. The council is conspiring. The crowd is vilifying. They don’t even know that Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The disciples are running like sheep without a shepherd. Mary’s crying. Peter is denying, but they don’t know that Sunday’s a comin’.

It’s Friday. The Romans beat my Jesus. They robe him in scarlet. They crown him with thorns, but they don’t know that Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. See Jesus walking to Calvary. His blood dripping. His body stumbling. And his spirit’s burdened.

But you see, it’s only Friday. Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The world’s winning. People are sinning. And evil’s grinning.

It’s Friday. The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands to the cross. They nail my Savior’s feet to the cross, and then they raise him up next to criminals.

It’s Friday, but let me tell you something. Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The disciples are questioning, "What has happened to their King?" And the Pharisees are celebrating what their scheming has been achieved.

But they don’t know it’s only Friday. Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. He’s hanging on the cross, feeling forsaken by his Father. Left alone and dying. Can nobody save him?

Ooooh, it’s Friday. But Sunday’s comin’.

It’s Friday. The earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My King yields his spirit.

It’s Friday. Hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered and Satan’s just a-laughin’.

It’s Friday. Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard and a rock is rolled into place.

But it’s Friday. It is only Friday.

Sunday is a-comin’!

From your community newspapers in Avoyelles, we wish you a blessed and happy Easter and remind you that there is a Sunday coming for every Friday we may face.