Good Friday?

“When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and one on His left.” Luke 23.33, CSB

Not an unfamiliar verse in the walls of the Church. Especially this time of year. But, tomorrow is the day that Christians around the world will celebrate or commemorate “Good Friday”.

This is the day that Jesus died. Or, should I say, this is the day where “the Lord was pleased to crush Him severely” (Is. 53.5), the day when God “made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21), when Jesus “became a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). Why should we then call this good?

I was taught that it was wrong and vile to curse or to be cursed. I grew up where the bar of soap came out for speaking words of curse (yep, I can still taste the Dial…or was it Ivory?). I grew up in a home where sin was often taught, in a church were it was held in disdain, and with an understanding that God is loving God that hates sin. And Jesus became that for me?

Then I read about the way that Jesus was treated. The beatings. The lying. The cursing. The false trials. The accusations. The mocking. All of it on a Friday that we call “Good”.

Maybe you are like me and at some point you have asked yourself “Why is this so good?” It seems like the day should have a more somber, macabre title. Something like “The Friday of Melancholy”, but melancholy this is not because the sadness has reason.

Perhaps “Betrayal Friday” will fit better. The issue with “Betrayal” as the descriptor of this particular Friday is that it will cause all of us to point the finger. We will start with Judas because he is known as the betrayer, but his transgression was carried out on Thursday. Then we will move to Peter and his threefold denial. Maybe the other disciples who are no where to be found during the trial and crucifixion, save for John. Then we will start pointing fingers at the crowd who hailed Jesus on Sunday, but are now calling for his blood on Friday. The pointing never stops because we want it to be someone else’s betrayal.

That is why this Friday is Good. Because it was our betrayal. Yep, betrayal Friday rests at your feet and at my feet. No, that doesn’t sound “good” does it? We never would betray Jesus, would we? I am reminded of the lyrics to an old OC Supertones song from 1998. They sang “My sins yelled ‘Crucify!’ louder than the mob that day. My sins yelled ‘Crucify!’ louder than any mouth.” How fitting to see ourselves at the scene of the greatest betrayal with our sins placed on the back of this Jesus, forcing Him to finish what God started in redemption!

Hebrews 12.2 says “For the joy that lay before Him, [Jesus] endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Yep, it was a good Friday. He willingly took Himself as the curse. He joyfully accepted the crushing that His Father would be delivering. He lovingly took our betrayal, the cry of our sins. He did this because He knew that He was the only way that we could know God.

Sad? Yes. Good? Absolutely.

I don’t know where you are as you read this. I don’t know what is in your past or what is in your future, but I do know that is in front of your face right now. God loves you. God sent His Son Jesus to take the full weight of your sin. Jesus came to serve you and to honor His Father. We can rightly call this Friday “Good” because of the work He did on our behalf.

Sunday, we will celebrate His resurrection. That’s what makes “Good Friday” even better…He didn’t stay dead! He rose to give you life everlasting with God. Make sure that someone you know comes to hear this Truth. Draw them together with you as we point to the Risen King.

See you Sunday!