Good Friday is a day that most believers have heard of, but do we truly take time to reflect on what the day really means? As a child I often ponder why it was called ‘good’ Friday. How could the brutal murder of an innocent man ever be considered good? Even now, I’m conflicted when it comes to calling the day ‘good’. It seems insensitive and self-serving. In order for us to have a personal relationship with God there had to be a day when the God who created us would be made sin for us. That is not good at all. The fact that Jesus’ death on the cross was the only way for us to be freed from the penalty of sin only shows how truly bad and broken we are. There is nothing good in us. On the other hand, Jesus freely gave himself for us and died a brutal death on the cross, not because he deserved it, but because we did. That is a goodness that will never be surpassed. There has never been and there will never be anything more good than His death for us. That is why we refer to it as Good Friday.
One of my favorite songs is In Christ Alone. I always thought that it was an old hymn written in the 18th century, that in recent years has gain popularity. While searching for the history of the song, I discovered that it was written a mere 12 years ago. My favorite verse states “here in the death of Christ I live”. That is why His death is good. It gives life, eternal, true, un-ending life to those who trust in His name. I would encourage you to take some time today, or this weekend, to read about the sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf in Luke 22-23.