What is so good about Good Friday?

By Jewish tradition Friday began at (what we today consider to be) about 6 p.m. on Thursday.  Jesus’ Friday began with dinner to “celebrate the Passover” (Mt 26:17-30)—the Last Supper—with the Eleven Apostles and Judas.  After Judas left the gathering to collect his blood money in betrayal of Jesus from the synagogue leaders, the remaining Apostles went with Jesus to the garden of Gethsemane for prayer.  In the dark hours of Friday morning, the temple guard came and arrested Jesus on charges rooted in lies.  So far, Friday was not so good.

Jesus was then taken before the religious leaders who condemn him.  Without legal authority to execute their Messiah, whom they reject, they take a path of corruption and political correctness by sending Jesus before a Roman court.  Jesus—the Holy and Righteous One, who is without sin, and who judges the world (2 Cor 5:10; Jude 14, 15)—has been judged and sentenced to death by his own and the Roman (world) system by a politician, Pilate.  Pilate even stated, “I find no basis for a charge against him.”  Yet, by custom and in fear of political riots he gave in to the crowd shouting “Crucify him!”  Then he handed Jesus over to soldiers who beat him beyond human recognition to prepare him for crucifying on a cross.  So far, Friday was not so good.

After a long day of beatings and then in the agony being nailed to and hung on a cross Jesus said, “It is finished.” And, “With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” (John 19:30)—Jesus died. … … Why is this Friday so good?

It was good because Jesus Christ’s mission was to be the atonement—that mission “is finished” and He, His blood, is the only acceptable and required sacrifice to God for forgiveness of sin.  People had an opportunity to accept the Messiah (the One true King who would rule earth) or reject him, we rejected him.  So, then human law took over, which was to murder God.  That is why in his last breaths of life Jesus said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are dong” (Luke 23:34).  But, yes but, the resurrection and the promise of those who believe in Christ and His promise is coming.  In all that happened to Jesus, the love of God still gave us another chance in being eternally judged to enter heaven and not hell.  Jesus Christ’s blood covers all sin before God, because “whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  That is why “Good Friday” is so very good.

In Christ,

Owen <><

Read:  Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 13-24, John 13-21