Holy Week - Friday Why Would We Call This Good?

So I was asked again yesterday - why would we call this "Good" Friday. It's also known as Holy Friday, Black Friday (take that day after Thanksgiving) and Great Friday. It's telling that only one of those four names associated with the day actually speaks of the depth of Jesus' suffering on this day (and has been so co-opted by American culture, at least, as to be useless to us now).

So...why Good? The simple answer is because what Jesus did on Friday was good for us. His death on the cross was our punishment for sin - his body broken and blood poured our was for our redemption.

But there's a deeper sense in which this is "good". There's the depth of the love of God. There's the reconciliation between wayward humanity and God - but also a reconciliation between people and people that is the fruit of Good Friday. It's not just about being saved from out sin (though that would be enough) but being saved into the kingdom (living in the full presence of the power of the Holy Spirit).

This is a good day. And it is an awful day.

Maybe "Great and Terrible Friday" is better...

Comments

Aaron said…
"to that wonderful tragic mysterious tree, on that beautiful scandalous night you and me were atoned by His blood and forever washed white, on that Beautiful Scandalous Night
9:59 PM
Pastor Bill said…
Thanks, Aaron - one of my all time favorite songs.

Have a Blessed Easter!!
10:17 AM
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