WHAT IS GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER
Why is Good Friday good?
Because it marks the ultimate victory of light over darkness, hope over despair, and life over death.
He has Risen: A special Easter message of truth, power, and hope
“He forgave us all our sins… triumphing over evil by the cross.” – Colossians 2:13–15
The Story of Good vs. Evil – A Cosmic Conflict
From the beginning, a cosmic battle has raged—not between equal forces but between a created being in rebellion and the eternal, sovereign God. This is no fantasy. It is the real story behind every struggle, fear, injustice, and pain in the human experience. Amidst this cosmic conflict, there is an enemy of humanity—one who lies, deceives, and destroys. The Bible calls him Satan, the devil, the adversary of God’s purposes and people. But in the midst of this battle, there is also a Savior—Jesus Christ—who came to forgive sin, conquer evil, and restore life. His life, death, and resurrection were not religious gestures—they were God’s military strikes against darkness.
This Easter, we invite you to witness the moment Jesus won the ultimate battle: the defeat of Satan, sin, and death. The story of Easter is not simply about religion, forgiveness, or springtime traditions—it is about war. A real and spiritual battle between good and evil, light and darkness, death and life, and at the center of that war stands a cross and an empty tomb.
The Enemy Enters – Evil’s First Strike
In the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, a prophetic word was spoken—not only to humanity but to the serpent, Satan. God declared, “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” Genesis 3:15. In this moment, the first promise of redemption was spoken. A Deliverer would come—One who would crush the serpent’s head, though it would cost Him deeply.
But the serpent didn’t retreat. From that day forward, Satan has moved in shadows, distorting truth, manipulating hearts, destroying families, and spreading fear. Jesus later described his mission with unflinching clarity: “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy” John 10:10. The devil does not operate in the light of day but in the depths of confusion and unseen chaos. As the Apostle Paul revealed, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” Ephesians 6:12. This is not merely a struggle with the visible—it is a war against an ancient, invisible enemy.
Behind every injustice, every addiction, every lie, and every act of self-destruction is a spiritual force intent on keeping humanity bound in darkness. We are not just victims of circumstance—we are caught in a spiritual war.
The Weight of Sin – Satan’s Strongholds
The devil’s most destructive weapon is not brute force—it is deception. He rarely storms through the front door with violence. More often, he slips through the back window of doubt. His war is psychological. His strategy is subtle. His favorite battlefield is the human mind. Jesus called him “the father of lies” (John 8:44). From the beginning, Satan’s power has rested in one thing: convincing people that God cannot be trusted, that sin is harmless, and that shame is stronger than grace. He does not have to chain your hands if he can capture your thoughts. The Apostle Paul wrote, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4–5). These strongholds are not made of stone. They are mental and spiritual prisons—systems of thought reinforced by fear, shame, unforgiveness, self-hatred, pride, and religious confusion. They are lies stacked brick by brick until they form a fortress around the heart, shaping identity and distorting reality.
Satan whispers, “You’ll never be enough.”
“God can’t forgive someone like you.”
“You’ll always struggle with this.”
“You were born broken, and no one could ever love the real you.”
These are not mere insecurities. They are demonic strongholds—dark structures built to blind you, bind you, and bury you. What begins as a thought becomes a belief. What becomes a belief becomes behavior. What becomes behavior becomes bondage. And in that bondage, Satan shames you with the very sin he lured you into.
But Jesus came to break the cycle. God has given us divine weapons—truth, light, and authority—to tear down every lie. His Word is not just inspirational—it is surgical. It cuts through deception and shines into the shadows where strongholds hide. This truth, light, and authority empower us to overcome every lie and deception. Freedom begins the moment the truth takes root in the soul.
The Mission of Christ – Born to Destroy the Destroyer
Jesus did not come into the world merely as a teacher, guru, or moral example. He came as a warrior on a mission of unparalleled power and purpose. “The Son of God appeared for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil” 1 John 3:8. Every healing, miracle, and moment of forgiveness was not just compassion—it was combat. Jesus confronted evil wherever it lurked—in sickness, spirits, lies, and legalism. His mission was clear, his purpose was unwavering, and his victory was absolute. But His greatest weapon was His own death.
The cross was no accident. It was the battlefield chosen before the foundation of the world. Hebrews 2:14–15 tells us, “That through death He might destroy him who had the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery by the fear of death.” On the cross, Jesus bore our sins and endured the full wrath of God. But in doing so, He shattered the devil’s final weapon—death itself. This victory was a profound demonstration of God’s love and sacrifice for us.
He didn’t avoid death. He entered it. He descended into its depths and broke its chains from within. He took away sin’s penalty and Satan’s legal ground to accuse us. The cross was not defeat—it was the trap. And Satan walked straight into it.
The Turning Point – A Public Spectacle of Defeat
Nowhere is Satan’s defeat more vividly described than in Colossians 2:13–15. “When you were dead in your sins… God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins… and having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” This was no private victory. At the cross, Jesus didn’t simply cancel our sin—He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. The devil’s weapons were stripped from his hands. His rights were revoked. His accusations silenced. His claims against the children of God destroyed. What Satan meant for death became his humiliation. What the world saw as weakness became a spectacle of glory. Evil lost its grip. Death lost its sting. The enemy lost his voice. Jesus’s resurrection was not just a return—it was a coronation. The rightful King had conquered.
The Believer Empowered – Walking in Christ’s Victory
Now, that victory belongs to all who follow Christ. The blood that silenced Satan’s accusations still speaks on your behalf. Revelation 12:11 declares, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” You don’t fight for victory—you fight from it. Satan may still accuse you—but the blood of Jesus shuts him down. He may still try to oppress you—but your testimony declares, “I’ve been redeemed.” True victory begins with surrender. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). When a life is aligned with the will of God, the enemy has no authority left. And in Christ, we don’t just survive—we overcome. Jesus said, “Behold, I give you power… to tread on serpents and scorpions… and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19). This is resurrection power—not just for eternity, but for today. You are not merely saved. You are sealed. You are not merely forgiven. You are equipped. You are not merely a believer. You are a warrior.
The Invitation – Step Into the Victory
This is not just the end of a story. It is the beginning of a new life. Would you like to exchange lies for the truth? Easter is not just about remembering what Jesus did—it’s about receiving what He won. The grave is empty. The throne is occupied. The serpent’s head is crushed. This victory can be yours. Not earned. Not inherited. But received by grace.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL PUNJABI MASIHI CHURCH AT 604 590 2032 or email us at [email protected]