Good Friday Is Good

-April 15, 2022-

Good morning, happy Friday,

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

(1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Good Friday is the oldest of all holidays on the Christian calendar, dating back to 692. It commemorates the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary. We know that Jesus prophesied three times that He would be delivered into the hands of men, be killed, and rise again the third day. He fulfilled the Scriptures perfectly. Before there could His resurrection, there had to be His crucifixion; before His crucifixion there had to be His perfect life and ministry; and before He could live His perfect life serving the Father, He had to be born in Bethlehem’s manger. Thus, Christmas is connected to Good Friday, which is connected to Easter, the resurrection day. If any of them failed to occur, all would be lost for us.

But why call the day “Good Friday.” Our Savior was arrested, beaten, mocked, and crucified. His physical sufferings were so intense and painful. His spiritual sufferings were even worse: He was forsaken by God, He bore our sin, and endured the wrath and judgment of God that was our due. It was a good for us because He took our place, our pain, and our punishment. In love, He laid down His life for us.

Many churches have Good Friday services, others have just Easter services, remembering both His death and resurrection together. Either way, the whole week leading up to His death and resurrection is what is called “Holy Week.” It started with Palm Sunday last Sunday, His Triumphal Entry, and concludes with Easter this Sunday.

Good Friday was a terrible day for Christ in His death for us, but it along with Easter is good for us. By faith, we have forgiveness of sins, victory over sin, death, and Satan, and eternal life in heaven forever with the Lord. My favorite days are Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Good Friday, and Easter. Each day honors God. Some may have the day off today, others may get off early. Let us thank the Lord for what He did for us at cross.

The hymn writer W.G. Ovens and Gladys Westcott Roberts wrote, “Wounded for me, wounded for me, there on the cross He was wounded for me; Gone my transgressions, and now I am free, all because Jesus was wounded for me. Dying for me, dying for me, there on the cross He was dying for me; Now in His death my redemption I see, all because Jesus was dying for me.”

Have a blessed Good Friday, remembering His death on the cross for us. Stay safe and healthy.

In Calvary’s eternal bonds,

Dean