About the Author

Jennifer Dukes Lee is the author of several books, including Growing Slow. She and her husband live on the family farm, raising crops, pigs, and two humans. She’s a fan of dark chocolate, emojis, eighties music, bright lipstick, and Netflix binges. She wants to live life in such a way...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
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  1. Thank you, Jennifer! We all need to be reminded of the “good in Good Friday”.

    When Jesus died for the sins of the world, this included Judas’ sin of betrayal. If he had repented, he would have found forgiveness. It also included the scoffers who were taunting Him as He was on the cross. If they, too, had repented, they would have found forgiveness. Jesus died for Judas, He died for the scoffers, and He died for me.

    I woke up this morning with 1 John 1:9 on my mind. Oh, what a Savior!

  2. Jennifer,
    WOW! I was tracking with you and nodding my head the entire way through your post. It is only through the excruciating pain endured by Jesus we can experience the sweetness of our salvation! I don’t think I truly personalized the Good Friday message until later in life, as well, because I thought of myself as a “good girl.” Because I really tried to be obedient, I thought perhaps Christ died for those whose sins were more grave than mine. Looking a bit more closely, self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, as well as endless earning, striving, and performing stood out like a neon sign — PRIDE! I think pride is perhaps the ugliest sin of all — when we think we can be like Jesus without Jesus. When I was convicted of my own pride, I had a moment much like your pounding of nails and crying over tombstones. Until His sacrifice meets us where we really live, Good Friday is just another day. Joining with you in wanting to have a “Good Friday mindset” well beyond today. Terrific post! Have a joyous Easter, Jennifer.
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Oh Bev, This line that you wrote right here is going to stick with me:

      “Pride is perhaps the ugliest sin of all — when we think we can be like Jesus without Jesus.”

      Thank you for that sobering, needed reminder.

      xo

  3. We used to get out of school on Good Friday afternoon so we could attend church services. Those are days gone by, but this devotional defines Good Friday. Repentance is emphasized in your writing, we all need to practice repenting. The older I get, the more I realize how Christmas and Easter were God’s plan from birth to death of Jesus.
    Thank You for this devotional to welcome in this day 2021.

  4. I owed a debt I could not pay.
    He paid a debt He did not owe.
    I needed someone to wash my sins away.
    And now I sing a brand new song,amazing grace.
    Christ Jesus paid a debt I could not pay.

  5. Thank you for your words. Many many years ago I heard a pastor say, “And that Good Friday became GREAT because of an empty tomb…” Most times now, my heart reflects on GREAT Friday!

  6. Probably the best Good Friday message I’ve ever received. Beyond powerful. Thank you. (Also, need the t- shirt).

  7. Dear Jennifer,

    What an inspiring message! I was a decade older than you when I was moved to tears over the pain Jesus suffered for all our sins. As you said, accepting this truth into our own hearts can take awhile, because, it is difficult. Jesus did the hard work, so we can experience the joy of Easter. Halleluia!

    Happy Easter! Sandy

  8. Thank you Jennifer for those beautiful and meaningful words on this Good Friday xx

  9. Jennifer,
    This was a beautiful, heartfelt message, thank you for your inspiration this Good Friday.
    Blessings to all,
    Penny

  10. This is a post for us to return to again and again. And not just on Good Friday. Thank you, friend. Wishing we could hammer nails into a wooden cross together today. But so very grateful for your words that usher my heart there.

  11. WoW! Thank you for this inspiring message of Good Friday. “When we don’t see the gravity of our sin, we don’t really see our need for Jesus”- this is truth! I have sinned and fallen short so many times. Oh how I need the message of the cross in my heart and mind every day. Repentance is what we need to fully appreciate the “good” in Good Friday!
    Thank you, Jesus-our Saviour!

  12. That important question, “why are you seeking the living among the dead?” Because He lives we all can face tomorrow. It is His blood that gives us life and forgiveness. I am greatful for His sacrifice for me, even when I am not always worthy. Thank you for your post today, may God bless you.

  13. Amen and a wonderful testimony that we all need to read, think on, and do! I read not long ago, the word “sin” is almost an obsolete word these days! No one “sins” anymore! Sin is called by so many other words now and somehow the sin is justified by that word! Sin is not ok, and never justified with whatever word this evil world wants to excuse it with! Jesus died for our sins! God is coming back, and we all need to go and sin no more!

  14. Oh my goodness Jennifer. I feel like I was in the circle as you grabbed a nail and pounded into the cross and another. I feel like my head turned with all the others as you walked out the door…and sharing that moment of tears “as your soul was being awakened to the great need for Jesus, not just once, but every single day” It’s true and very easy to “get caught up in living my comfortable life, giving God a daily list of demands and hoping He’ll come through for me”
    If I’m true, honest and grateful for all He has done for me and remember how much He loves me, I pray my soul will be awakened every single day!
    Blessings sisters

  15. What a vivid and valuable lesson your pastor taught with the act of hammering nails into the cross. Ouch! We (I) did that to Jesus. And God forgave us (me) because the blood of loving Jesus covered my sin! It is a Good Friday! Happy Easter!

  16. Thanks for sharing your personal story. It was vivid in my mine as I read. Very powerful! Seeing the gravity of our sin brings it home for sure.

    I’m grateful for Christ’s sacrifice for me.
    God bless you

  17. Beautifully written… a wonderful reminder of what Good Friday is all about… God loves us!!!!

  18. Jennifer,

    Preachers today want to water down the gospel message. They preach a prosperity gospel-just believe & you are saved. Not so. One must repent & be baptized for the remission of your sins Acts 2:38. Most churches today don’t celebrate communion often. Our church does it every Sunday. We have a communion meditation then we drink the blood & eat the bread (body). We dwell on what happened & how much Jesus loves us. Often it brings me to tears. Just imaging the pain & agony He endured for me-a wretched sinner who messes up daily makes me weep. I’m with you on pounding nails into a wooden cross & weeping over graves. Seeing us as we are – lost sheep in need of a Savior. One who loved enough to leave the splendor of Heaven to come to broken earth & die an ugly painful death for our sins.

    Blessings 🙂

  19. That was the beautiful thing that I’ve ever read. Touched my soul like nothing else. Thank you.

  20. In this precious, painful moment you asked, “Why couldn’t there be another way?” We American Christians have a tendency to avoid this question. But facing it honestly tells us so much about God.

    Why did He set it up this way? He’s God. He can do anything He wants to do. He can come up with the most brilliant plans, devise the most intricate systems, all in the blink of an eye. Did He really have to choose a painful, humiliating, bloody way to bring us back into fellowship with Him?

    I don’t know. Maybe He could have picked another option.

    But what would have happened if He had chosen an easier way out? As you show so clearly here, I wouldn’t take my sin seriously enough. And as you mention toward the end of the article, I wouldn’t have such a powerful demonstration of the extreme depth of His love for me. As a result, my relationship with Him would be shallower and weaker. (Adapted from my blog at https://thosewhoweep.blogspot.com/2021/03/why-did-jesus-have-to-die.html.)

    Thank you for asking the questions that help us all to see the “good” in Good Friday.