3:101 – Why Is It Called “Good” Friday?

#faithbites #faithjourney #holyweek good

Some things in the English language are hard to understand. One that struck me was that we should fear god. It wasn’t until just recently that I found out that this fear was adoration, not being scared. It completely changes the meaning of the phrase.

Likewise, I never understood why a celebration would be called Good Friday when it is the crucifixion of someone’s savior. It was very odd to me that it would be good when the leader of your religion has been killed. It wasn’t until I was baptized and learned that it is Good because Jesus’s work on Earth was finished. Another twist of English is that Good used to mean Holy. So Jesus was Holy and was Good. His entire purpose on Earth was to bind us back to God. He had to finish it, meaning be killed, to fulfill the prophecy of the old testament. Though we wouldn’t think of death as good, it when it happens for our eternal salvation.

Scripture

• After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”  Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. – John 19:28-30
• Dogs surround me,  a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce^[e] my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. Psalm 22:16-19

Reflection

I only quoted part of Psalm 22, but you can read the entire chapter to see to what lengths Jesus went through to fulfill this prophecy. This was a very painful, gruesome death. No one would say this is a Good ending. It was an ending that was equivalent to all of our sins.

I am more sinner than saint. Truly, I can’t imagine the pain and suffering that he went through for me, a mere sinner.

I have no words to say except that because of his sacrifice, it is Good. Because he died for me, it is Good. For all of these things, we can celebrate that he will return and we are saved.

Challenge

As you think about the sorrow of Good Friday, reflect on what this sacrifice means to you. How are you celebrating the goodness of what Christ did?

Prayer

Father God, you sent your only son, our Lord, to die on the cross. You gave us a perfect representation of humanity, only for us to kill him, for him to die for us. We love you and can’t imagine that level of sacrifice. Thank you. Help us to remember that no matter how dark it gets, that there is Good in Christ and because of him, we are reconnected with you forever and always. Amen.