Thursday, April 5, 2012

Why Good Friday


Many believed that “Good Friday” is derived from “God’s Friday”. This seems like a reasonable evolution of language as “Good bye” is derived from “God be with you”.

Let us stop and think through why we called it “good” when a human was crucified on the cross. Crucifixion is a terrible way to die. If we do not stop and think for a while, it is easy to assume that this significant Christian day “Good Friday” is just what we Christians refer to this day, the day Jesus was crucified on the cross.

It is amazing that the “good” of Good Friday is part of the “good” declared by God during Creation. “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31, NIV). The fallen state was no good, man sinned, but the redemption by the death of Jesus for the atonement of man’s sins was part of the “good” of God’s creation.

The event of Jesus’ death on the Cross was certainly not good, and Good Friday is not about this event. Good Friday is about the result of this terrifying event. It was Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross which resulted in the cleansing of our sins, He took our sins, and gave us eternal life. The result – His Redemption is one of the greatest gifts to mankind. By the grace of God this is the goodness that He gave us freely especially to those who accept Jesus as their personal Savior.


No comments: