Today is known throughout the world as Good Friday. Since it celebrates the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, you might wonder what is good about that. We will explore the sweetness of this day despite the horrific suffering.
What Happened?
Before the Jewish Leaders-
One of His disciples, Judas of Iscariot, betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders. They came with a band of soldiers to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Him. Then He stood trial where He was accused wrongly of many things. Regardless the Jewish leaders found Jesus guilty of blasphemy. Since they legally could not execute criminals, they took Jesus to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.
Before Pilate and Herod-
Pilate conversed privately with Jesus and did not find any reason to execute Him. However, the Jewish people and leaders insisted. When Pilate found out that Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Him to Herod Antipas for judgment. Herod and his court mocked Jesus, put a royal robe on Him, and sent Him back to Pilate.
Pilate then tried to appease the Jewish leaders and their crowd by ordering Jesus to be flogged. Soldiers also made a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus’ head, mocking Him. Then to appease the demanding crowd of Jews, Pilate agreed to crucify Jesus.
At Golgotha-
After carrying His cross until He could physically no longer do it (Joseph of Arimethea carried it the rest of the way), Jesus was lead to a hilltop called Golgotha. Soldiers nailed His hands and feet to the cross and set it up between two other convicted criminals. There Jesus endured more mocking, soldiers gambling for His clothes, and the pain of His injuries. After some time, He breathed His last breath and died.
Why is this good?
There is nothing good about what Jesus endured. He died a horrific death. I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to be wrongly convicted, mocked, scourged, beaten, or crucified. Jesus even though He was completely innocent endured all of those punishments.
Redemption Needed-
However, Jesus did because it completed God’s plan to redeem His people. Since Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, all of mankind has been separated from their Creator God, who is perfect, holy, and just. We had no hope to reconcile our relationship with God in our own strength or goodness. Isaiah 64:6 says, “…all of our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” This means even our best actions are still dirty and unwanted by God. We can never be good enough.
But in God’s wisdom and love, He sent His Son, Jesus, to live a sinless life. Then He died the death we all deserve because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). The verse goes on to say, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Because Jesus died and took the punishment for sins, He paved a way for us to be washed of our sin and reconciled to God.
Is it good for you?
If you only believe that Jesus was a man who died on a cross, then today is just another Friday. But if you believe that Jesus is God’s Son who died on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins and also believed that God raised Him from the dead three days later, you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Without the events of Jesus’ trial, condemnation, and death, we would still be without hope. But since He allowed Himself to be sacrificed on the cross, it is a GOOD day for believers.
Hopefully now you understand why this Friday is good. But the story doesn’t end there! Wait until Sunday when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. We don’t worship a dead God. He is alive! To learn more, you can read the entire account in Luke 23 and 24. If you want to celebrate with a church body, then I personally invite you to Lakeside Bible Church this Sunday. Happy Good Friday! Happy Resurrection Day!