When we think of Good Friday, we think of the torture, agony and punishment of Jesus. How can the cross, such an instrument of pain, suffering, and death, be something good? How can we call Good Friday good? Why don't we call it Bad Friday instead? Or Dark Friday, or Black Friday (instead of the black Friday shopping day that comes after Thanksgiving)? Wouldn't something like Bad Friday be a more representative title than Good Friday? Or would it?
The more we mature, spiritually, the more we begin to see that, although the cross is a terrible thing, it is incredible good news for us. As Christ followers, perhaps the "good" in Good Friday, really stands for Good News - good news for us! It's the good news of the Gospel message - that Christ came to earth, died for our sins, was buried yet rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and is coming back again. And because Jesus willfully died on the cross, symbolically in our place, as the sacrifice for our sins, we believers are forgiven! And through the sacrificial death of Jesus, we are reconciled to God, and made right with Him. Now, isn't that good news?
So although the means of our forgiveness, the cross, is brutal, the outcome is victorious. This instrument of death reveals and fulfills the grace, mercy, and love of God for us. That, friends, is good news.
Although I'm sure we can come up with more, below are 7 reasons why Good Friday is Good.
1. The day draws the world's attention to Jesus.
This day which commemorates the death of Jesus on the cross is a day of focus - maybe not a day of celebration - but a day of reflection on what Jesus did for Christians. It serves as a reminder, a rally point, a memorial.
2. The day magnifies the symbol of Christianity - the Cross.
When you think of Good Friday, you think of the cross, the symbol of Christianity. And the cross is a powerful reminder of what Jesus did.
3. The day rallies Christians all over the world
Whether it's a Christian church in America or in Africa, we are all united in our focus on the cross on Good Friday. It's something we all have in common as Christians.
4. The day reminds us that God loves us.
Jesus could have called upon the angels of heaven to rescue Him at any time, but instead chose to fulfill his mission - to offer His life as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The motive? Love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
5. The day reminds us that we are Redeemed.
The dictionary definition of the word redeem: To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum. Jesus paid the price of our salvation. The price?...His life. In a sense, He purchased us with His own blood. Because of His grace we are now His. "Through the cross we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." (Ephesians 1:7)
6. The day reminds us that we are Reconciled to God.
Without the cross, we cannot be made right with God. We are reconciled to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus. To be reconciled means to reestablish a close relationship, to be in harmony, in balance. Through Jesus we are in a loving father/child relationship with God.
7. The day points us to the Resurrection.
If there was no Resurrection, then Jesus is defeated - and death wins. But thanks be to God! He WAS raised to life! And His resurrection gives us the victory as well! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, and was victorious over death, then we are raised from the dead also - to have eternal life with the Lord our God forever and ever.
On Good Friday, we commemorate the suffering of Jesus - His substitutionary death on the cross. And even though we reflect on such a gruesome event on a Friday, remember one thing...SUNDAY’S COMING!
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