What Made It A Good Friday?

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.”