A Good Friday Indeed
Jesus saved us - that is what makes Friday so good.
What is so good about Good Friday? Jesus was beaten, bruised, and tortured. How can we celebrate that?
It appears that, while Jesus was wrongfully killed for sins we committed, we get to live everyday in peace. No one is wanting us dead, and there is no sign of a killer being sent our way; furthermore, we are not humiliated in front of thousands of people. Now, every Easter Friday, we consider it a Good Friday because we as sinners are alive and Jesus, the innocent son of God, died.
How does that constitute a Good Friday?
Let’s consider this situation: You are filled with sin and you deserve to die. When you are called forth to receive what you rightfully deserve, someone stops you. He loves you dearly, even though you have never seen his face. He tells everyone that he will die for you. Instead of you, who are filled with this sin and rightfully deserve to die for it, this man will take the fall. In the end, would you not be filled with joy? Would you not be so eager to rush home to your family and exclaim the good news? After all, you were planning to die for what you did, and right before that time comes, you are saved from that penalty!
It makes sense that we feel bad for being the individual to live while the innocent one dies. God made us to feel sorry for those who suffer. However, what makes Friday so “good” is that Jesus chose to be the one to save you.
Imagine you went out to ice cream with your father (earthly father). You have not seen him all day, and when he takes you out to ice cream, he offers to pay. You tell him, beg him, “No, you do not have to do that.” He replies, “I do not have to, but I want to. I love you and want to pay for your ice cream even though I do not have to.”
In the same way, we do not deserve our freedom to be given to us. God did not have to send his son Jesus to die a sinner’s death, but he did. We can kick, scream, and throw tantrums at the fact that we were supposed to die and not Jesus; but, in the end, God chose to send his son, and we can celebrate the fact that we are still able to breath, sing, love, and live life to the fullest.
If I were supposed to be dead, but someone came along and said, “I will take the fall, even if you deserve to take it,” I would be overjoyed. Maybe that is what Good Friday is all about – jumping for joy and celebrating the fact that Jesus breathed life back into us by dying a sinner’s death.
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” – Romans 8:34
Celebrate, for we are no longer condemned!
