Happy Easter!!

What is so good about Good Friday? It was the day that our LORD was betrayed, falsely accused, arrested, abandoned, illegitimately put on trial, brutally beaten, wrongfully sentenced to death, and hung on a criminal’s cross to die. That doesn’t sound like a “good” Friday at all. 

Perhaps Good Friday and Black Friday should trade names. Big sales are good. Beatings and death are bad and dark. 

So what’s so good about Good Friday?

The fact that Jesus willingly endured the cross.

He knew he would be betrayed, falsely accused, arrested, abandoned, illegitimately put on trial, brutally beaten, wrongfully sentenced to death, and hung on a criminal’s cross to die.

He knew it and he chose to go through with it anyway. 

…Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified… – Luke 24:6-7, ESV

…Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith… for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame… – Hebrews 12:2, ESV

Why? 

Why did he do it?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16, ESV

Wow!

It turns out that “good” is not nearly good enough! Jesus willingly suffered and died for us! He did it so that we who believe in him could have eternal life! Perhaps the day should be called “Great Friday”, or “Awesome Friday”, or “The Most Amazing And Absolutely Best Friday That Could Ever Possibly Be” (though that last one wouldn’t fit too well onto a calendar.)

And what made Good Friday even better? The fact that Jesus didn’t stay dead! On the third day he rose again!

Christ is risen. Happy Easter!!