THE ‘GOOD’ IN GOOD FRIDAY
On Good Friday, many families watch the Passion of Christ, a depiction of Jesus’ intense suffering in his final hours. It’s a stark reminder of the brutal crucifixion, leaving many to question why such a day is called ‘Good’ despite our Saviour’s pain and humiliation.
WHY IS IT CALLED GOOD FRIDAY?
Good Friday holds immense significance for Christians as it commemorates what we consider to be the most crucial day in the annals of humanity. It is on this solemn day that Jesus, out of his boundless love, willingly endured the agony of crucifixion and sacrificed his life to absolve us of our sins.
“It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was his unqualified resolution, out of love for his Father, to do his Father’s will—and it was his love for sinners like me.” (D.A. Carson, Scandalous: The Cross and Resurrection of Jesus) Good Friday is a good day because Jesus traded places for you and I. It is a good day because it was the day he conquered sin and death so that we will never be apart from God on this side of heaven or the other.
“It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was his unqualified resolution, out of love for his Father, to do his Father’s will—and it was his love for sinners like me.”
WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED ON GOOD FRIDAY?
The following account of Jesus’ death can be found in Matthew 26:14-27:66, Mark 14:12-15:47, Luke 22-23, John 18-19.
Judas, a disciple and friend of Jesus, betrayed his whereabouts in the Garden of Gethsemane, leading to his arrest and subsequent appearance before Caiaphas, the high priest. This late-night meeting with the Sanhedrin was an attempt to find grounds for putting Jesus on trial. Despite their efforts, they were unable to gather enough evidence to condemn Him to death.
The high priest then demanded of Jesus, asking, “Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus confidently responded, “I am, and you will see me, the Son of Man, sitting at God’s right hand and coming back on the clouds of heaven.” The high priest accused Jesus of blasphemy, prompting the others to shout for His death. They proceeded to spit on Him and beat Him. Jesus was then taken to Pilate since they lacked the authority to execute Him. Pilate found no fault in Jesus, but to appease the crowd, he allowed His crucifixion.
In that time period, crucifixion was seen as the most brutal form of execution, typically reserved for criminals and slaves. Jesus, who was believed to be the son of God, was whipped and made to carry his own cross to the location where he would be crucified. Once he was nailed to the cross, he was given a crown made of thorns and mockingly called the “King of the Jews.” Positioned between two other men who were also facing the same fate, Jesus was left to suffer and eventually die. As he hung on the cross for six painful hours, the Bible tells us that darkness covered the land when he took his final breath.
At noon, a series of unexplainable events began to unfold. The once clear sky darkened ominously, casting an eerie shadow over the land for three hours. In that moment, Jesus let out a poignant cry, surrendering His spirit to the Father and taking His last breath. At the same time, a mysterious event occurred in the temple as the sacred curtain was torn from top to bottom. The earth shook violently in response to these profound events. This all happened on a Friday afternoon, just before the Sabbath began. This Sabbath was no ordinary one, as it coincided with the important Passover celebration. After Jesus was crucified, His body was carefully wrapped in linen and placed in a tomb. Roman guards were stationed there to prevent any rumors of His resurrection. However, after three days, a miraculous event occurred – Jesus emerged from death, victorious over its grasp.
WHAT SHALL WE MAKE OF JESUS’ DEATH ON THE CROSS?
THE DEMAND OF THE CROSS
Christianity’s core belief centers on God enduring humiliation and suffering, unlike other religions. The scandalous message of a God being publicly shamed and ultimately dying for the sins of others is difficult for many to comprehend. The cross, a symbol of curse and rejection, was repugnant to both Jews and Gentiles. Despite challenging societal norms and defying human logic, Christians revere this message of the cross.
The scandalous message of a God being publicly shamed and ultimately dying for the sins of others is difficult for many to comprehend.
The crucifixion of Jesus unveiled the brutal and heartless cruelty of humanity. At every turn, Jesus faced excruciating pain and suffering. As we learn of the atrocities committed against Christ, we must not believe it was solely the work of the Jews and Romans of the first century. Rather, it is the sinfulness of all mankind that is laid bare. Even though we were not physically present in Jerusalem on that tragic Friday, it was our sins that were being exposed.
The consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Jesus, as the sinless one, endured suffering on behalf of sinners and died, bearing the punishment in place of all sinners. He does this so that we will die to sin and receive eternal life (Romans 5:8; 1 Peter. 2:24, 3:18). Therefore, it is for our sins that Christ was crucified. He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities so that through His punishment, we may find peace (Isaiah 53:5). Christ, the lamb of God, was sacrificed to provide atonement for sin.
Unless we acknowledge that we are active participants in the crucifixion of Christ, we fail to grasp the significance of the cross. Only when we recognize that Christ hangs in our place, taking our sins upon Himself, do we truly begin to understand the profound truth of the cross.
THE LOVE OF GOD
As much as it is an act of humanity, the crucifixion of Jesus is also an act of the divine sovereignty by God. The cross represents God’s divine initiative to save sinners destined for hell. It is a meticulously planned and purposeful act by God to bring about perfect redemption. It was God’s will for Christ to suffer and die for the sake of sinners (Luke 24:24; Acts 2:23).
The Cross is a meticulously planned and purposeful act by God to bring about perfect redemption.
This plan was devised by God even before the creation of the world (1 Peter 1:19-20; Revelations 13:8). It was promised to Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:15), revealed to the patriarchs (Genesis 22:8, 14), foreshadowed in the Mosaic law (Leviticus 16), sung about by the poets (Psalm 22), and prophesied by the prophets (Isaiah 53). Therefore, Paul affirms that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3).
Could God have chosen any other means to save sinners? This is the same question that Christ posed in the Garden of Gethsemane. In his anguish, he pleaded, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
In his anticipation of the impending cross, Christ asked his Father if there was any alternative to save sinners apart from the cross. The silence of God resounded with a resolute “No.” The cross was the sole means of salvation for sinners.
The wrath of God weighed heavily upon sinners. God’s wrath is not abusive or manipulative like human anger can be. Rather, it is a tangible manifestation of the divine perfection of his nature. It is an expression of his holy, righteous, and good attributes. God’s wrath is therefore his faithful response to wrongdoing, aiming to restore justice. God’s wrath had to be satisfied.
The justice of God demanded the death of sinners, while the love of God desired their life. God’s holy wrath abhorred sin, while his love yearned to extend mercy to sinners. The cross is the only place where divine justice and divine love converge and embrace one another.
On the cross, God demonstrated his love and satisfied his justice in the perfect death of Christ (John 3:16, Romans 3:25-26). Thus, God now grants sinners the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.
The justice of God demanded the death of sinners, while the love of God desired their life. God’s holy wrath abhorred sin, while his love yearned to extend mercy to sinners. The cross is the only place where divine justice and divine love converge and embrace one another
OUR RESPONSE TO THE CROSS
The crucifixion of Christ boldly and openly confronts the shame and horror of sin. Unlike man’s attempt to hide sin behind fig leaves, God addresses it with perfect justice on the cross. He does not condemn sinners but instead saves them through his Son.
Stephen Charnock, the puritan, said in a sermon, “Let us look upon a crucified Christ, the remedy of all our miseries. His cross hath procured a crowd, his passion hath expiated our transgression, his death hath disarmed the law, his blood hath washed a believer’s soul. This death is the destruction of our enemies, the spiring of our happiness, the eternal testimony of divine law.”
This is why the cross of Christ is a reason for rejoicing. The only appropriate response is to humbly repent for the sins that necessitated the cross and to worship God for his loving sacrifice of his Son, Christ Jesus.
