Miracle on Good Friday

Good Friday is known in history as the day Jesus died on the cross and that was in 31 CE exactly 1984 years ago. Exactly at 19h00 Korean time was 1pm on that Friday and we arrived at the Jonghwa church near Sonrisan, the famous mountain of Korea. We stopped and parked at the church, the elder’s wife came to greet us and accompany us into the church. We left our shoes at the door and put on the slippers and went in to greet the other three members, since we are only six. The oil heaters were on and made a noise and the elder was singing his favorite opening songs. My wife took her place behind the piano. We sang “Rock of Ages cleft for me” of Toplady and some other songs like the Korean popular song of Kim Han-Joon “That I live now is” for opening of the Sabbath. It was 1pm in Jerusalem that Friday in 31 CE. At this point in our time, at 7h10, the time back then in Jesus’ time when the thief on the cross had a conversation with Christ, a man in our time walked into the church and sat down. The head-elder recognized him as his neighbor and wrote his name, mr. Kwak on the board and introduced him to us. He stood up and said that he was drunk. He said that he had never been in a church before but that his father was a regular Seventh-day Adventist. Then he said something that only God in His infinite love could have placed in his drunken mind: “Parents make the gutters for the water of the children to flow in. That is why I came in the church tonight”. What amazing wisdom that could only have come from on high. It is a miracle again on Good Friday exactly at the time the thief on the cross turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when you come in Your kingdom”. At 1pm Christ’s time the thief wished to be with Christ and at 1pm our time the visitor to our church wished to be in the church with God. The thief on the cross was prompted by the Holy Spirit to approach Jesus and mr. Kwak was prompted by the same Spirit to come to church. It was a miracle that the thief found salvation that day in 31 CE exactly the same time that mr. Kwak came to seek salvation for his soul in Jongwha church. Is it mere coincidence that this happens? Is it an event and supernatural aspect that one should just take for granted or as normal? God forbid. We have to open our eyes to see the angels of God at work and the Spirit of God pleading to people. Jesus promised the thief on the cross that day: “I say to you that you will be with Me in paradise” and that is what my prayer is for mr. Kwak that the same Christ also said tonight to him: “I say to you that you will be with Me in paradise”.

Dear Jesus

Accept mr. Kwak as he is and turn him into a son of God totally accepted and forgiven and given a new life. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.