Good Friday Reflections

Why do we call this day “Good” Friday? What about it is good? Was not the very Son of God unjustly accused, tried, beaten and killed as a criminal? Did he not suffer scorn and shame to a degree none of us can fathom? Were not those who claimed to follow Him the very ones to desert Him on that dreadful day? Do I not also desert Him every day by giving my affections to things that are of infinitely less value?

So why is it good? Because while I was still a sinner, dead in my transgressions and sins, a child of wrath, whose righteous deeds were as filthy rags in the sight of a holy God…though this was my state of being, Christ died for me…the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring me to God (1 Pet. 3:18).

This is the love of God demonstrated to sinners! It was the will of the Lord to crush his Son (Isaiah 53:10)…WOW! For me…why? It is incomprehensible at time. But it certainly is “GOOD”! So I will rejoice in this day and call it “good”. I will reflect on the glory and splendor of Christ and His cross and call it “good”. Though by human standards it was wicked and completely unjust, it was the Divine plan, foreknown and pre-determined by the Godhead (Acts 2:23). Long before humans rebelled against the Almighty, the rescue plan was in place. And it would not only cost the Son His life, but would force the Father to turn His back on His precious beloved Son. Why? For all wickedness, sin and unrighteousness was put on Jesus at Calvary. Again, what is good about this? Why the great exchange of course! “For our sake he (Father) made him (Son) to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him (perfect, sinless Son of God) we (evil, wicked and rebellious people) might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).

The Son not only gave up His life, but was willing to bear our sin upon Himself and experience separation and rejection from His Father as a result. Oh how sad if the story were to end here. This day would certainly not be called good if that were the case. But death could not hold Him! He rose and conquered the grave. And what does Paul tell us? “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). This is “Good News!” I get Christ’s eternal righteousness while He gets my sin. Most of all, this is by no merit of my own!

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if justification were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Gal. 2:19-21). May I never nullify the grace of God by believing for even one second that I deserve my salvation because of something I have done.

May my hope always rest in the promise of Titus 3:4-7, “When the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Amen…that is “GOOD”!!