"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matthew 24:14
Why do they call it Good Friday?
This is a question my hairdresser asked right before we celebrated Good Friday. Although my hairdresser and I had had spiritual conversations over the years, this was a question she asked out of the blue. She couldn't understand why we called it "Good Friday," since if Christ died on the cross, that didn't sound very good.
However, this question prompted me to share the gospel with her. I was able to share about the veil being torn into after Christ's death (Matthew 27:51). Because the veil separated people from the high priests, who were only allowed to enter the temple, it now allowed everyone to have access to the Father because of Jesus's death and resurrection on the cross.
Although I have invited my hairdresser to church a couple of times, she has refused. However, these spiritual conversations plant seeds in her mind about who Christ really is and how much access she can have to him in her life.
The above verse tells us that the more we share the gospel with others, the more we'll expedite the Lord's coming. Although evangelism is an important part of being a Christian, I don't always evangelize as I should. Often, I focus on discipleship and staying within the church, rather than making friends with those outside it.
Yet this verse reminds me that there is a sense of urgency to evangelism. The more we speak about Christ, the closer we will be to his return for his people. Just like I will never fully understand the role prayer has on earth, I will understand more fully what my prayers did when I get to heaven.
In the same way, I may not see any fruit come from my evangelistic efforts on earth, but in heaven they may make a great impact. In the end, Christ decides what happens to our efforts. We are only tasked with the urgent call to share Christ with others and, ultimately, to make disciples.
Take a moment to analyze your life. How many friends do you have outside of your church that are unsaved or are curious about knowing more about God? Do you often talk about Christ with those outside the church? Do you find yourself more closely aligned with those within the church?
Ask yourself this question: if I took the time to evangelize to one person per month, what type of impact would that have on heaven? Even if I don't see my efforts bear fruit here on earth, what impact might it have if I chose to share my faith with others?
Often, churches reduce themselves to fellowship dinners and events. They rarely make discipleship or evangelistic efforts outside the church. Sometimes they rely on government officials to do the work of evangelism for them. However, Christ entrusted this responsibility to the church. It is our duty to show others the love of Christ.
We must show others, with no strings attached, love and kindness in Christ-like character. While it may be exciting to see someone come to church or even come to faith because of our efforts, that is not the ultimate agenda. We must tell others about Jesus because the more we do so, the closer we may come to Christ's return to earth to save his people.
Father, let us be people who make evangelism a natural part of our lives. Let us not rely on our church to do evangelism for us; let us share with those we have placed in our path. Let us pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us as he puts before us people who need to know more about God. Let us be in tune with your Spirit and, when the time is right, share our faith with others. When we do, let us rejoice, it will bring you one step closer to being reunited with your church. Amen.
Photo credit: Getty/shuang paul wang
Related Resource: Discouragement Often Comes after Calling | Ezra 3
In this episode of The Bible Explained, Jen walks through Ezra chapter 3 and explores the Israelites’ return from exile as they begin rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. She highlights how the people, though fearful and greatly outnumbered, chose unity, obedience, and worship by first rebuilding the altar and restoring sacrifices to God. The episode focuses on the emotional moment when the temple foundation is laid—some rejoice with gratitude while others weep, remembering the former temple’s glory. Through passages in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, Jen emphasizes God’s encouragement not to “despise small beginnings,” reminding listeners that God often works through humble starts, difficult seasons, and imperfect circumstances. The episode closes with a practical encouragement: when God calls people to a purpose, opposition and discouragement will come, but faithful perseverance and trust in God’s presence are what carry the work forward. If this podcast helped you understand the Bible in a clearer way, be sure to follow The Bible Explained on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Thursday, 28 May 2026.
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