Good Friday Is Good

-April 7, 2023-

Good morning, happy Good Friday,

“Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”

(Luke 23:44-46).

It is not called, Frightful Friday, Agonizing Friday, or Horrific Friday, it was all of that for Jesus in His suffering on the cross. Yet for Him and for us, it is Good Friday. He bore our sins, our guilt, and our shame on that old rugged cross. The cruel instrument of death became the instrument of life for us. It all played out on a hill called Calvary, Golgotha, the place of the skull. God brought complete darkness over the scene as the greatest sacrifice was ever made.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, died as the lamb of God in our place as our Substitute. He suffered, blessed and died for the sins of the world. He offered Him up as the perfect sacrifice. He died outside the camp, rejected and scorned by men, forsaken by God, all to save us. He also cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34); and “Father into Your hands I commit My spirit (Luke 23:46).” He fulfilled all righteousness, defeated sin, death, and Satan by dying.

Once Jesus completed our salvation, He said in John 1:30, “It is finished.” After the great transaction was complete, He breathed His last. He yielded up His life willingly for us. He who could have called ten thousand angels to set Him free, died for you and me. He who knew no sin, became sin for us; He who innocent, took our guilt; He who was the Light of the world, died in darkness.

Yes, it was a Good Friday. A day like none other. Satan thought he won, the world thought it won. They silenced His voice. Yet, He won the victory over sin and death. Sunday we will once again remember and celebrate His triumphal resurrection from the dead.

One of the greatest hymns of the faith is, “The Old Rugged Cross” written by George Bennard. He wrote, “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain. O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; For the dear lamb of God left His glory above to bear it to dark Calvary. In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see; For ‘‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died to pardon and sanctify me. To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away, where His glory forever I’ll share. So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, ‘Til my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.”

Have a Good Friday remembering the price Jesus paid, giving His life to save us and bring us forgiveness, eternal life, and salvation. Stay safe and healthy.

Gazing on the cross where Jesus died,

Dean