What is the “Good” in Good Friday?
Good Friday is the day that commemorates the death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. Christians believe He was crucified and died for their sins, as the Messiah of the Jews and Savior of the world.
Good Friday is also called “Sacred Friday”, “Passion Friday”, “the Holy and Great Friday”, “Sorrowful Friday” and “Long Friday”.
Good Friday marks the end of the 40-day period of fasting for Christians, called the Lent.
Good Friday is Good and Important for Us
That Jesus of Nazareth was executed on a cross on Good Friday is pretty much the one thing that everybody who has heard of him knows about his life.
Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was not just a teacher/preacher but the only Son of God.
Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth was not just a teacher/preacher but the only Son of God. The one whom God said in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
On Good Friday, Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1 John 1:10, Romans 6:5).
1. Our Sins are Forgiven in Jesus’ Death.
For the good news of the gospel to have meaning, we first must understand the bad news of our condition as sinful people under condemnation. The good news of deliverance only makes sense when we realized how we are enslaved (Romans 3:23).
John the Baptist calls Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). The wrath of God against sin had to be poured out on Jesus, the perfect sacrificial substitute, in order for forgiveness and salvation to be poured out to the nations (Isaiah 53:3-6). Without this awful day of suffering, sorrow, and shed blood on the cross, God could not be both “just and the justifier” of those who put their faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26).
Hebrews 2:17says that Christ made“propitiation for the sins of the people”and 1 John 4:10says “in this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Paradoxically, the day that seemed to be the greatest triumph of Satan and evil was their death blow in God’s gloriously good plan to redeem the world from sin’s bondage.
Paradoxically, the day that seemed to be the greatest triumph of Satan and evil was their death blow in God’s gloriously good plan to redeem the world from sin’s bondage.
Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2. Our Broken Relationship with God is Restored.
Because of our sins, we were alienated (separated) from God. Christ’s death removed this alienation and reconciled us to God. The death of Jesus on the cross is where we see the convergence of great suffering and God’s forgiveness. Psalms 85:10 sings of a day when “righteousness and peace” will “kiss each other.” Good Friday is where God’s demands, His righteousness, coincided with His mercy.
Good Friday is where God’s demands, His righteousness, coincided with His mercy.
Jesus willingly took our divine punishment. Hebrews 12:2says, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame”. Jesus knew that Good Friday would lead to His resurrection, our salvation, and God’s reign of righteousness and peace in our restored relationship with Him (1 Peter 2:24, Romans 5:1).
3. We Have the Hope of Eternal Life.
The result of salvation is eternal life (John 3:15, 26). The result of restored relationship with God is to spend all of eternity in His presence (We called this place “heaven”).
John 17:3 says, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”We not only have the hope of life after death but right now, at this moment, we possess eternal life because we know Him(1 John 5:11-12).
4. He Has Defeated the Powers of Satan, So We Can Live New Lives Unto God.
Through Christ’s death, “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 3:15).
Christ defeated Satan and all the powers of darkness by His death.
We can now live lives under the power of God.
The Devil no longer has any power over us (Colossians 2:13-14, 1 Corinthians 15:55-56). We no longer live in fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). We can now live lives under the power of God (Galatians 2:20).
Reflection:
Do you need your sins forgiven? Good Friday is good for that.
Do you need to know God and have a new relationship with Him? Good Friday shows you the way.
Do you want the hope of eternal life? Good Friday makes it possible.
Do you want power to overcome your sins, habits and fears? Good Friday has secured that for you who believes.
Rev Alvin Ngo recently retired after 36 years of full-time pastoral ministry to be fulltime caregiver to his wife who has dementia. In his spare time, he reads, writes and preaches at least once a month, counsels and mentors others. He is married to Wai Leng and they have three children, Isaac, Ivan and Isabel.
