Good Friday Really is Good
It is a little strange, isn’t it, that we set aside time to remember the brutal murder of Jesus. And we call it “Good!” Remembering what He did on our behalf. What he suffered for us. And we call it “Good!”
Why would we call it “Good Friday?” From a hindsight view, we understand that the brutality and suffering that Jesus endured accomplished the greatest good on our behalf. It is because, as S.M. Lockridge put it in his famous sermon (1), “Sunday’s coming.”
What we celebrate on Sunday, the Resurrection, is the final proof of Jesus’ authority as God’s Son. As Paul the Apostle puts it, “[Jesus] who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom 1:4). And it is the Resurrection of Jesus that gives us the hope of our own resurrection. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his (through baptism), we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Rom 6:5, also see v3-4). Praise be to God.
Still, Good Friday, in itself, should not be overlooked. Some might view the incidents in the last week of Jesus’ life as a cruel miscarriage of justice. And it certainly was. But Good Friday was more than that. Perhaps, some would think that God took bad circumstances and simply used them for good. But Good Friday was more than that.
On Good Friday we see the deliberate plan of God being fulfilled. Prophecy fulfilled in an undeniable way. Each event predicted hundreds of years ahead of time in the Old Testament. Jesus’ riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. (2) His betrayal by a close friend. (3) Even the detail of a kiss from His close friend, since “close friend” could be translated as “one who gives the kiss of peace.” The flogging. The beating. The mocking. The spitting. All predicted ahead of time (4) Jesus was crucified with thieves. Predicted ahead of time. (5) Soldiers cast lots for His clothes. Predicted ahead of time. (6) His bones were not broken. Predicted ahead of time. (7) On and on and on.
Is this a big deal? All these things being told ahead of time? Yes. God wanted us to be sure that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, and that He was from God and is God. The prophet Isaiah writes:
“Therefore I told you these things long ago;
before they happened I announced them to you
so that you could not say,
`My idols did them;
my wooden image and metal god ordained them.'” (Isa 48:5)
God wanted us to know all of this, the coming of Jesus, the death of Jesus, and yes, His resurrection, are His plan. We can’t miss it.
God is also a just God. Sin and disobedience have their consequences. He could not be a “good” God if He is not a “just” God. Could He? God put in place a system of laws so that we could understand our sin and our need for Him. “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin” (Rom 3:20). But, since God, in His justice, established the law, He must obey it. That law requires an atoning sacrifice. (8) So, God, paying a price we could not pay, provided the atoning sacrifice: Jesus Christ. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jon 2:2).
We can see the need to show God’s sovereignty and His plan through prophecy fulfilled. We can see that a “good” God must also be a “just” God. But why? Why would God sacrifice Himself? Why would He send His Son to suffer and die? That’s the easiest answer. It is simply love. “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:7-8).
With each betrayal. He demonstrated His love for us.
With each blow to His face. As he was spat upon. When they pressed thorns into His head. He demonstrated His love for us.
With each crack of the whip. Cutting through flesh. He demonstrated His love for us.
With each piercing blow on the nails in His hands and feet. He demonstrated His love for us.
With each breath He struggled to take. Forcing himself up on pierced feet and hands. He demonstrated His love for us.
He demonstrated a love that cannot be questioned. Each time I look at the cross, it is obvious that God loves me. He loves you. He loves all of us. He calls all back to Himself through His love and sacrifice.
On Good Friday we see God’s sovereignty. He is in control of all things. If we open our eyes, it is easy to see. On Good Friday we see justice. God paid the price that we were unable to pay. Providing the necessary atonement for our sin. On Good Friday we see love. Incomparable love. Poured out in painful, but willing, sacrifice. Love that we cannot question.
Good Friday really is Good!