Twenty four years ago today I, along with everyone in the Oklahoma City metro area, was awakened by the sound of a bomb blast. I lived in Bethany at the time; I’d guess about seven to nine miles away (as the crow flies) from the Murrah Federal building. Of course there are others who lived even further away who also heard and felt the blast.

Twenty-four years ago, April 19 came three days after Easter. Three days after we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year, April 19 falls on what we term Good Friday.

Today, we remember the victims, and their families, of that act of home grown terrorism. Today, we also remember that nearly 2000 years ago Jesus Christ died on a cross to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind. And we may ask ourselves, in light of the tragedies that we remember today, how can we call this “Good?”

We call today “Good Friday” because by His death on the cross, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, paid the price for sin. Just as He took Barabbas’ place on the cross, he took YOUR place on the cross. He took MY place on the cross.

We mourn for those we have lost. And we, as those first disciples, weep at the death of our Savior. We remember them. How will we honor them?

Though the night may be long, we also remember “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming.”