Good Friday
What’s
So Good about Good Friday?
Justin Holcomb
What is Good Friday and why do we call Good Friday “good,”
when it is such a dark and bleak event commemorating a day of suffering and
death for Jesus?
For Christians, Good
Friday is a crucial day of the year because it celebrates what we believe to be
the most momentous weekend in the history of the world.
Ever since Jesus died and was raised, Christians have proclaimed the
cross and resurrection of Jesus to be the decisive turning point for all
creation.
Paul considered it to be “of first importance” that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised to life on the
third day, all in accordance with what God had promised all along in the
Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3).
On Good Friday we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by
crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1 John 1:10).
It is followed by Easter, the glorious celebration of the day Jesus was
raised from the dead, heralding his victory over sin and death and pointing
ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith (Romans 6:5).
Still, why call the day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday” instead of “Bad
Friday” or something similar?
Some Christian traditions do take this approach: in German, for example,
the day is called Karfreitag, or “Sorrowful Friday.”
In English, in fact, the origin of the term “Good” is debated: some
believe it developed from an older name, “God’s Friday.”
Regardless of the origin, the name Good Friday is entirely appropriate
because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the
dramatic culmination of God’s plan to save his people from their sins.
In order for the good news of the gospel to have meaning for us, we
first have to understand the bad news of our condition as sinful people undercondemnation.
The good news of deliverance only makes sense once we see how we are
enslaved.
Another way of saying this is that it is important to understand and
distinguish between law and gospel in Scripture.
We need the law first to show us how hopeless our condition is; then the
gospel of Jesus’ grace comes and brings us relief and salvation.
In the same way, Good Friday is “good” because as terrible as that day
was, it had to happen for us to receive the joy of Easter.
The wrath of God against sin had to be poured out on Jesus, the perfect
sacrificial substitute, in order for forgiveness and salvation to be poured out
to the nations.
Without that awful day of suffering, sorrow, and shed blood at the
cross, God could not be both “just and the justifier” of those who trust in
Jesus (Romans 3:26).
Paradoxically, the day that seemed to be the greatest triumph of evil
was actually the deathblow in God’s gloriously good plan to redeem the world
from bondage.
The cross is where we see the convergence of great
suffering and God’s forgiveness. Psalm
85:10 sings of a day when “righteousness and peace” will “kiss each other.”
The cross of Jesus is where that occurred, where God’s demands, his
righteousness, coincided with his mercy.
We receive divine forgiveness, mercy, and peace
because Jesus willingly took our divine punishment, the result of God’s
righteousness against sin. “For the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2)
Jesus endured the cross on Good Friday, knowing it led to his
resurrection, our salvation, and the beginning of God’s reign of righteousness and peace.
Good Friday marks the day when wrath and mercy met at the cross.
That’s why Good Friday is so dark and so Good.
Good Friday Bible Verses
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless,
Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous
person, though for a good person 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. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall
we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies,
we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having
been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" Romans 5:6-10
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might
die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and
familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised,
and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our
suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and
afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds
we are healed." Isaiah 53:3-5
Are you struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future
will play out?
Why not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your
behalf?
He says, “I will instruct you and teach you the way
you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner
and my sins have separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past
sinful life and begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I now
receive your Son, Jesus Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe
and confess that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the
dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided for me as my
Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall
call on the name of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that
Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the
Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask
You, to come into my heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have
given me eternal life, and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You
for the gift of the Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You. I
promise to study Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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“Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It”
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lyrics
1 Redeemed, how
I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever I am.
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever I am.
Refrain:
Redeemed, redeemed,
redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
Redeemed, redeemed,
redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
2 Redeemed, and
so happy in Jesus,no language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
3ith me doth continually dwell.
[Refrain]
3 I think of my
blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
[Refrain]
Justin
Holcomb is an Episcopal priest and teaches theology at Reformed
Theological Seminary and Knox Theological Seminary. Justin wrote On the Grace of God and
co-authored with his wife Lindsey Rid of My Disgrace and Save Me from Violence. He is also the
editor of Christian Theologies of Scripture. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, and at JustinHolcomb.com.
This article is
part of our larger Holy Week and Easter resource library centered around the
events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We hope these
articles help you understand the meaning and story behind important Christian
holidays and dates and encourage you as you take time to reflect on all that
God has done for us through his son Jesus Christ!
http://www.christianity.com/god/jesus-christ/what-s-so-good-about-good-friday.html
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