By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC


Early in my life just before Easter Sunday, I had a vision of Jesus dying on the cross. I was reading the account of it in Scripture when suddenly it was as if I was there! I was “taken back” to say the least. I wept my heart out seeing that awful, unthinkable suffering. I looked into His eyes within this vision and cried out, “Why did you let them do this?” After all, Scripture makes it clear He could have called 10,000 angels. He could have had that rescue! Then, I hear Him answer, “So that you could be free.”

It tore at my heart that He died so I could be free—as I knew I was not free. I had a lot of guilt about not doing everything right. “Free” would mean feeling good about life and OK about myself. No. I was not free.

Then in the vision I was allowed to feel what being totally free would be like—and I laughed as it was what everyone would love to feel in life. Then, I cried again, knowing I was not free.

Of course, I was learning a powerful lesson. Yes, Jesus died and picked up my tab. His spilling His blood to cover the sins of humanity was something I had not yet been able to absorb. I felt I had to win my way into His good graces. I felt I could not be good enough. I wasn’t “good enough” for my father so how can I be good enough for God?

The human part of Jesus–for He was both man and He was God–had asked His Father the night before, “saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Scripture portrays him praying earnestly and being in agony to the point drops of blood following His sweat. Jesus chose the cross! This is why so many of us love Jesus the Anointed One, the Christ, for he has taken away the burden of our sins. He purposely covered them with His life-giving blood.

I soon sought the help of a priest. He listened. He called this “a great consolation.” I left his office wondering if I could ever comprehend the truth of God loving me so much as to pick up my tab, pay my sin debt. Maybe some of us have to work harder at receiving God’s grace—His limitless love. But that Easter I came to understand why we see the Friday before Christ’s resurrection as “Good Friday.”

It was no small deal for Him to die! His life and then His death were the hugest thing that has ever happened on earth—aside from God setting up human life on the globe out of love for us all! Although we know our Lord suffered more than any one of us can imagine. It was for no other reason than to bring us back to Himself. His plan opened the way for humans to walk and talk with Him . . . and to feel the peace He brings to our hearts and to know the joy of being loved!

We have only to accept this precious and wondrous love of the Creator of life, while turning our aberrant behaviors over to this mighty One who calls us home to Himself. What do we get in return? Eternal life. Fellowship now and forevermore with our Creator–Father, Son and Holy spirit…the Trinity.

Could we not call this day, “Good Friday” because it is the best of all days since creation—extending

freedom from guilt, free of shame. And, so we could be with Him forever after this life has come to its end.

In John 14:6 Jesus made it clear, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” There are not multiple ways to gain this great gift Jesus provided for us. There is one way.

No human being is so good that he or she does not need Jesus. For, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.

VIEW FREE- – at Healing-with-Joy.com Joy’s children’s book titled: The Little Mountain Goat Who Was Afraid of High Places. There are helpful articles –also FREE–for people who are struggling with varied difficulties. Internet analytics show people are reading Joy Le Page Smith’s blogs are read in up to 32 countries.