What's So 'good' About Good Friday?

Good Friday is observed traditionally as the day on which Jesus was crucified. Jesus set the ultimate example of sacrifice in His once-for-all work on the cross. It reminds each of us that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The crucifixion of Jesus was a terrible event... We can't even begin to comprehend the pain that Jesus endured on the cross that day to sacrifice His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. Jesus Christ died a horrible death, a painful death, a death unspeakably cruel and vile, all because He loved humankind. So why is it called Good Friday? It's difficult to see what is "good" about all what happened on that dark day. What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was definitely not good. However, it’s called Good Friday because; even while the world’s authorities were conspiring to perpetrate history’s greatest evil, God was working to bring about histories greatest good. Scripture says “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

God himself was acting to save the world from itself, once and for all. John 3:17 says “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” Why did Jesus died? 1 peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” So the results of Christ’s death turn out to be very good. The crucifixion of Christ shows clearly the will of God concerning mankind. It is man’s disobedience and unbelief that causes him to perish in eternal damnation. The cross of Jesus Christ makes it very clear that God does not want us to perish. Salvation is God’s will for us. In other words God had allowed himself to be born as a man so that he could live and suffer among us, to serve as the perfect atonement for our sin, and to offer forgiveness and salvation to anyone who believes.

God incarnate suffered and died on the cross as a propitiation for the sins of all mankind. On the cross, Jesus suffered so that we would not have to suffer. Through the cross, we can be reconciled to God and each other. Bible says: “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification” (Romans 4:25). “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have hope for the future.

Two thousand years have passed since the Crucifixion Day, yet the Bible account enables us to visualize the day and event with a great deal of accuracy. While on the cross, Christ makes seven brief utterances. The words which Jesus uttered on the Cross are worthy of special consideration because of who uttered them, where they were spoken, and what they mean. They are precious because they are deep expressions of the Eternal son of God in His time of terrible agony in those moments when He actually paid the price of our redemption. From these Seven Words of Jesus we can draw strength and courage for our own walk on this earth as we follow Him. Allow these magnificent Words of Jesus from the Cross to speak to you today – Ponder it in your hearts by reflecting on his Words.

THE FIRST WORD

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). THE WORD OF FORGIVENESS and RECONCILATION The first words that Jesus spoke after being nailed to the cross were ones of forgiveness. Jesus completed His work and said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” Gospel presents the sufficiency of Christ to save sinners (Luke19:10). So it makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of forgiveness and reconciliation. That’s the point of the cross, after all. Jesus was fulfilling the prophecy that He would make “intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12). Jesus is dying so that we might be forgiven for our sins, so that we might be reconciled to God for eternity. The wonder of this Word from the Cross is that there is forgiveness. Forgiveness for the disciples who forsook Jesus and fled in the night, Forgiveness for the evil ones who drove Him to the Cross, Forgiveness for the soldiers who nailed him to the tree, Forgiveness for the bitter hearts of his religious enemies, the priests and teachers, Forgiveness for every person who has ever sinned or made a mistake and Forgiveness for you and for me. Bible says “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9).