GOOD FRIDAY 2025: WHAT MADE IT A GOOD FRIDAY?
LUKE 23:32-49
#GoodFriday
INTRODUCTION / FOCUS ON “GOOD”
Etymology is the study of where words come from. Sometimes that can be a fun thing to look at and sometimes it can be mind-numbingly boring. For most of us, it is probably boring. But! Today, overall, we are focusing on a particular word and we have to know what it means and why it is used. The word?
Good.
The word "good" traces back to Proto-Germanic “goda” meaning "fitting or “suitable." The German word swam across the English Channel and related itself to Old English by marriage and we ended up with “god (with a long "o")” meaning "excellent, fine; valuable; desirable, favorable, beneficial; full, entire, complete; beneficial, effective; righteous, pious; righteous, and virtuous.”
The word “good” is associated with a lot of words and phrases that we often use:
“Good egg” is a phrase often used to denote a person that we like and admire. To call someone a “good egg” is an old-fashioned complement and given the price of eggs lately perhaps you are also letting people know that they have money.
When you want someone to do well, we say to them “Good luck.” If you have to wish them well, but you don’t really like them you add to that such as: “Good luck, go break a leg.” That is sort of passive aggressive. Yes, go do well, but also, end up with a cast.
We also use “good” in phrases when we are exasperated. “Good gravy” and “Good grief” seem to be popular. The problem with “good gravy” is that this phrase should really only be used to talk about breakfast and is probably just a substitute for not saying the Lord’s Name in vain. “Good grief” was popularized by Peanut’s character Charlie Brown when he was exasperated. By the way, Charlie Brown first said “good grief” on June 6, 1952 and he said it to Lucy. If you win Final Jeopardy with that one day, I expect a generous tip.
Other phrases are important because we are using the word “good” to enhance or define what we are talking about. “Good choice,” “good natured,” and “good fortune” are all phrases used to indicate that the “choice,” “nature,” or “fortune” are categorized as desirable, favorable, beneficial; full, or complete.
When my kids were younger and watched “Maggie and the Ferocious Beast” a phrase on that show was “good googly moogly.” I don’t even know what that means. I would assume it is less wonderful than “great googly moogly,” but that is only a guess on my part.
So, why are we interested in the word “good?”
We are interested in this word “good” because we are here to observe “Good Friday.” Good Friday is in the top 4 of the most famous Fridays we have. The others being Black Friday, Friday the 13th, and the restaurant TGI Fridays. I personally would put Good Friday at the top since it is the best.
KEY QUESTIONS
When it comes to Good Friday, why is it called “Good?”
It could be called “Death Friday” or “Nailed Him Friday” or “Jesus Friday” or lots of other descriptors. This day of Holy Week does have other titles if I am honest: “Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, or Friday of the Passion of the Lord,” but the one that is most often used is “Good Friday.” We are going to stick with “Good Friday” because that helps my sermon.
When it comes to Good Friday, why is it called “Good?”
It is important that we know what and why we believe what we do as believers. It is important for us to know why we call this day that we are observing “Good Friday.” To understand why we call it “Good Friday,” let’s turn to Luke 23 and read about what happened on this day to Jesus about 2,000 years ago.
READ LUKE 23:32-49 (ESV)
“Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with Him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on His right and one on His left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide His garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up and offering Him sour wine 37 and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over Him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” 43 And He said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” 44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!” And having said this He breathed His last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this Man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.”
The answers as to why this is called “Good Friday” are present in these verses as well as the other Gospels that share about the death of Jesus. You can find the death of Jesus recorded in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19. We just so happen to be looking specifically at Luke 23 this evening, but the same answers are in the other Gospels.
When it comes to Good Friday, why is it called “Good?”
TRANSITION
Luke 23:32-49 gives us 5 answers to that question.
KEY ANSWERS IN LUKE 23
VERSES 32-34: FORGIVENESS WAS THE ORDER OF THE DAY
First, Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day forgiveness was the order of the day. This passage represents forgiveness in many ways. The entire purpose of the cross is for our salvation. 1 Corinthians 1 says…
READ 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18 (ESV)
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
The Apostle Paul says the cross is about wisdom for those who are being saved. He says the cross is about the power of God. The umbrella term for what God was doing through Jesus on the cross is forgiveness. Forgiveness comes by way of the cross. Life comes by way of the cross. Salvation comes by way of the cross. Firstly, the entire purpose of the cross has to do with forgiveness.
Second, while on the cross Jesus was handing out forgiveness. This Man had been beaten, falsely tried, mistreated, nailed, and was consistently suffocating in pain and in the middle of all of that was forgiving those around Him. He calls out to God in verse 34 to forgive those who are in the process of crucifying Him.
RE-READ LUKE 23:34a (ESV)
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Those who are ridiculing Him and stripping Him of all dignity receive His forgiveness. We will cover this in a moment, but even one of the convicted criminals next to Him is forgiven.
Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day forgiveness was the order of the day. Not only was forgiveness the entire purpose of the cross, but Jesus saw to it that He forgave while the crucifixion was happening. That makes it good.
VERSES 35-38: JESUS IGNORED THE “IFS”
Second, Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day Jesus ignored the “ifs.” I am convinced that the word “if” was Jesus of Nazareth’s biggest temptation. How do I know that?
READ MATTHEW 4:3 (ESV)
“And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
READ MATTHEW 4:5-6a (ESV)
“Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down…”
READ MATTHEW 4:8-9 (ESV)
“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these I will give You, if You will fall down and worship me.”
READ MATTHEW 26:39 (ESV)
“And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
RE-READ LUKE 23:35b (ESV)
“He saved others; let Him save Himself, if He is the Christ of God, His Chosen One!”
RE-READ LUKE 23:37 (ESV)
“If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!”
If. If. If. If. If. If. The temptation for Jesus of Nazareth was always there to accomplish His mission in an easier way or in a way that was quicker. The temptation was to be a spectacle and then people would place faith. You and I deal with “ifs” and we fail to resist the temptation to do things our way, but Jesus resisted the “ifs” every single time and was completely committed to Gods will.
Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day Jesus ignored the “ifs.” Jesus did not come down off the cross and smite the world. Jesus did not do some flashy miracle from the cross to prove His identity. Jesus chose not to save Himself, but chose to save us. Jesus stayed on the cross to prove His identity. That makes it beneficial, full, entire, and complete. That makes it good.
VERSES 39-43: PARADISE WAS JUST AROUND THE CORNER
Third, Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day Paradise was just around the corner. Jesus is just about to change the fabric of all existence for all time.
I mentioned this earlier, but one of the convicted criminals on a cross next to Jesus turned to Him in faith. The man asked Jesus to remember Him when He came into His Kingdom. Jesus responded matter-of-factly in verse 43…
RE-READ LUKE 23:43 (ESV)
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.”
What does Jesus mean? If I am honest, we do not exactly know. We have a great educated guess. The word “paradise” is only used three times in the New Testament with one of the times being spoken by Jesus on the cross.
We know one thing for certain based on what Jesus says. Jesus says in verse 43… “you will be with Me.” Paradise is where Jesus is at. We get the sense that Paradise is created when Jesus dies. Jesus absolutely and fundamentally changes life-after-death with His death. Jesus knew what was coming.
Jesus absolutely has the authority to forgive sins and take this criminal next to Him with Him into the next life. I feel like whatever Paradise is we know two things for certain. #1 Paradise is where Jesus is. #2 The fellow next to Jesus on the cross was the first resident.
Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day Paradise was just around the corner. Jesus changed the trajectory of all our souls on that Friday which makes it a very significant day. It is complete and effective. That makes it good.
VERSES 44-45: CLEAR ACCESS TO GOD
Fourth (of five), Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day humanity gained clear access to God. Luke 23:45 shares with us an action that happened as Jesus died which has a very huge theological significance. Verse 45 shares with us that the curtain in the temple was torn in two exposing the Holy of Holies. This action symbolizes the removal of the barrier between God and humanity.
In the Jewish temple, there was a thick curtain that separated the holiest innermost part of the temple where God's presence was believed to dwell from the rest of the temple. When Jesus died, the curtain was torn from top to bottom, signifying that through Jesus' death, the way to God was now open to everyone. No longer was there any kind of barrier between God and humanity. The death of Jesus made it possible for all people to approach God directly.
The Book of Hebrews shares the same Truth with us…
READ HEBREWS 10:19-23 (ESV)
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He Who promised is faithful.”
Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day humanity gained clear access to God. The clear access to the Almighty God of the Universe is by the blood of Jesus the Christ. The removal of barriers and freedom to have a relationship with God is all because of Jesus on the cross. That makes it good.
TRANSITION
Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day…
…forgiveness was the order of the day.
…Jesus ignored the “ifs.”
… Paradise was just around the corner.
… humanity gained clear access to God.
Finally we have reason #5.
VERSES 46-49: GOD WAS IN CHARGE OF THE PLAN
Fifth, Good Friday is Good Friday because on that day we saw that God was in charge of the whole plan. What I mean by this is that none of what occurred on that day, none of what happened to Jesus, none of what benefitted us… was an accident. God was in charge the whole time.
At the moment of Jesus’ death in verse 46, He knew that the Father was read to receive His spirit. The centurion non-believer standing there in verse 47 saw all that had transpired and attributed the whole thing to innocence and in other Gospels attributes the whole thing to God. The crowds are impacted in verse 48 and go home knowing they had seen a work of God. We know this was always the plan because in Isaiah 53 the prophet tells us…
READ ISAIAH 53:5 (ESV)
“But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.”
READ ISAIAH 53:10 (ESV)
“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put Him to grief; when His soul makes an offering for guilt, He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.”
Good Friday because on that day we saw that God was in charge of the whole plan. God had a plan before the foundation of the world to save us.
SUMMARY
The Friday Jesus died is called “Good Friday” for specific reasons.
The Friday Jesus died is called “Good Friday” because on that day forgiveness was the order of the day, Jesus the Son of God ignored the “ifs,” Paradise was just around the corner, humanity gained clear access to God, and God was in charge of the whole plan. What a good day!
CHALLENGE / CONCLUSION
If someone you know is not a Christian, I lay out the challenge for you to remind them why “Good Friday” is in fact “good.” Make that part of the faith you share with others. There are no sales. There are plenty of scary things, but no nightmares or bad luck. There are no appetizers that get our mouth to water.
The Good Friday we believe in is all about Jesus Christ Who lived a sinless life to offer us in His death reconciliation and freedom in God. To put it another way…
Jesus Christ was and is the ultimate “Good Egg” Who “good googly moogly” is “as good as gold” Who had the only sinless “good run” which then enables us to say “good riddance” to sin and guilt allowing us to spiritually be in “good shape” with our “Good Good Father.” Believing in Jesus is a “good call.”
PRAYER
