Good Friday 2014. Want to go on a field trip? Let’s go to God’s throne room—the place where God and Jesus hang out. I’m assuming the Holy Spirit is currently at your house—His day job.

The Two look out Heaven’s window at Good Friday services and the Easter weekend events that try to portray the Crucifixion and duplicate the sound of Jesus’ voice as He speaks to the grieving disciples.

It has been approximately 2000 years since that Passover weekend. No human words can explain or express the horror of what happened on the Cross. (Killing Jesus by Bill O’Reilly tries.)

“Any regrets? Second thoughts?” God the Father asks the Son.

Luke says as he starts the story of the Church—The Acts of the Apostles—what the Apostles did after Jesus went to Heaven, “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all Jesus began to do and teach…” (Acts 1:1).

With their Google map, they focus on my house. Any regrets? Second thoughts? About the cost of the Cross?—Return on Investment? I do not believe Jesus would ever say that He has second thoughts for paying the price for your redemption or mine.

My daughter reminded me:

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1).

 On this Good Friday—a newspaper article about a man in his seventies who has spent most of his adult life in prison. After being released from prison, he robbed a bank with the intent of being caught so he could go back to prison. A judge granted him his wish last week.

“Boredom and loneliness led him to conclude life on the inside was preferable to life outside.” “I just want to go home,” he told the judge. He spent his days of “freedom” watching television, painting or drawing. “He was living like a hermit,” an observer said. The man in bondage said, “…it was like living in solitary confinement.”

It is after noon local time. Significant for Good Friday with Jesus on the Cross. When He said, “It is finished,” was He referring to His mission statement—

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to…proclaim liberty to the captives…to set at liberty those who are oppressed” (Luke 4:18).

Even for a man who feels more at home in prison? It feels like what Jesus began to do and teach did not reach him. My soul hurts!

Exciting ministry plans to set captives free:

 Two of my books will be published next week as ebooks.

1.  On My Family Watch—a 9-chapter strategy for marriage and family. This content spells out what we furnish our lives with to offset generational predispositions. It also helps us determine what legacy we shall leave. We cannot give to others what we don’t have. This book is a response to my novel, “Depot at Southwood.”

2. Mockingbirds at Dawn—A devotional interaction with Ephesians. One of the first readers suggests this is a great resource for people in recovery looking for daily readings. “Fresh song at Daybreak.” I will give you a store address when the books are online.

 My book, “Nailing Tapicoa to the Ceiling” will be published on my blog over the next two weeks. One chapter a day. The sub-title is, “Process of forgiveness.” The book will be published later, but I wanted you to have a first look. I will notify you each day with blog address.

• Quest House Seminars—contact me if you want dates and places. We will use Depot at Southwood and On My Family Watch as primary resources. A 4-6 session begins after Easter.

© 2014 D. Dean Benton

Benton Quest House