I gave my life to Jesus in the back of a youth room in an Evangelical Lutheran Church. The year was 1989. I was wearing a black leather jacket, I had ripped jeans on, my hair was bleached blond and I had a pack of Marlboro’s in my inside pocket. I was angry because I was so wounded.

In that Lutheran Church, in the main sanctuary there is a wooden cross that has an illuminated stained glass window behind it. There is a wooden altar rail and padded kneeling benches for anyone that wants to kneel down and pray at the altar.

One of the special services we did in that church was called a Tenebrae service. This was our Good Friday service. We entered in the sanctuary lit up only by the stained glass window and some candles. The atmosphere was set for Good Friday.

They had seven different people read and briefly speak on the seven last words of Christ. Once the last person spoke the words, “It Is Finished!” Without notice, a book slammed shut, the lights went out and we all sat in the dark, stunned in silence.

We had been given nails to hold onto upon entry, so in the dark, nail in hand, the whole church sat in silence and when ready left in silence. No talking that night, it was a Good Friday, worthy of silence.

I remembered this experience today as I was praying Psalm 7 which says, “Close the book on Evil, GOD, but publish your mandate for us. You get us ready for life: you probe for our soft spots, you knock off our rough edges.”

The Lord spoke to me early Wednesday morning this week and said, “Today is a really Good Friday.” The book on Evil has been closed. The nations are in silence in the spirit. It is dark right now, and we are called to be still and know that He is God. We are invited to embrace the silence for it speaks louder than the voices trying to figure out this really Good Friday we just had.

Remember 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 “We speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” It is finished! Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org