Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.… One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” LUKE 23: 32, 39– 43 NIV

A Friday of mixed emotions. The religious leaders were satisfied that they had removed this troublemaker, a Roman Prefect is disturbed by the whole thing, a mother is losing her son, and only one of his followers has stayed around. The majority of the mob were mocking, but some wondered if he was the Son of God?

Matthew’s writes, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Mat 27:50-54 NKJ)

This wasn’t just any Friday, nor was this just any crucifixion. Something was happening! The good news was that Sunday is coming!