Good Friday

So what exactly happened on this day that millions of people have commemorated throughout history all over the globe? There was a man named Jesus of Nazareth (his life is an undisputed historical fact) who was arrest, given a false trial, then sentence to death. And so it was that the only truly innocent person who ever lived was murdered. The question you might be asking is why, if an innocent person was killed, do Christian celebrate this day as being ‘Good’? That is a very good question.

Here is a little look into the narrative. Just a few days earlier, throngs of Jewish people celebrated as Jesus entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, hoping He was the God-ordained deliverer. But instead of taking the throne as the people had hoped he would, Jesus was put to death. The political, and religious powers of the time, all worked together to have Jesus executed.

It very important to understand that Jesus was the only human who had never sinned. He did not deserve the sentence he was given. We even know that he could have prevented it if he wanted to. But Jesus knew that this was the only way to accomplish the mission he was sent to earth for. In Jesus own words, “for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.” John 12:47 b

Good Friday seems like a sad day when the only truly innocent human being was just executed. What exactly is good about this day? In the darkness of that day, God’s plan was unfolded to set everything right. Every person who ever lived or ever will live has chose their own way over God’s good and perfect way. This brokenness in the relationship with God and man has four major implications. It requires a payment. It violates God’s love and justice. It separates us from God. Finally, it takes us captive; we become ‘slaves’ to sin, as the Bible says.

So when Jesus came as a human who lived perfectly, never choosing his own will, but always His Fathers. In He accomplished four fundamental things by dying on the cross. First, he took on the punishment that we deserved. Secondly, he removed God’s righteous anger from us. Third, he made it so we can have a relationship with God. Fourth and finally, he redeemed us from slavery to sin and satan!

That is why we call it GOOD Friday. Because on that very day Jesus accomplished all these incredible things, for all who believe in Him! Yes, it would have been a horrible, agonizing, unbelievably painful day for him. If you look at this scene and only see judgement and anger, look again. We are told very clearly it was all done in love, for love, by love! The Bible says Jesus did this because of the JOY he knew would come by making things right again. He took on all the pain, darkness, and punishment that we deserved, so that we could be free and come near to God as his own beloved children.

It can feel like a sad story. Christians believe this was not the end. The story of Jesus isn’t over with His death. Good Friday is always followed by Holy Saturday as a new week will come. Easter is coming! And on that day everything changed!