What's So Good About Good Friday?

Today, on Good Friday, I find myself thinking about so many aspects of the story of Jesus’ death as outlined in the bible, and I’m unable to get past the idea of “Good Friday”.

Why do we commemorate this day of suffering and death by calling it “Good”? Is there really anything good about it?

In the garden of Gethsemane, the night before he made his trip to the cross, Jesus confessed to his closest disciples that his “soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death”, and that he was also “troubled” (Matthew 26:37-38).

Jesus was very aware of what was about to happen to him. He knew the trials that lay ahead of him would be extremely challenging.

He would be betrayed by one of his 12 disciples (Judas). Someone from his inner circle (Peter) would deny even knowing and being with him. And the other 10 disciples would scatter and hide out of fear for their own lives. So he would be alone.

Jesus understood that he would be thought of as a fraud; that he would be mocked, spat upon, reviled, beaten and flogged. And this would not be the type of flogging that some of us may have experienced when spanked by our parents. The whip used on Jesus would dig into his flesh, tearing it apart, and causing intense pain and bleeding.

Jesus faced the fact that thorns would be pushed into his head, that his clothes would be stripped off, and that his true identity as King and Lord would be called into question. He knew he would be nailed to a cross like a common criminal, and that the pain his mother would experience would be as if an actual sword had physically pierced her heart (Luke 2:34-34).

And on top of all that, for the first time in his life, Jesus would be separated from his heavenly father with whom he shared the deepest bond we can ever imagine, causing him to cry out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).

Knowing all this, it’s no wonder that in Gethsemane Jesus fell with his face to the ground and asked three times, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me...” (Matthew 26:39). In other words, if only this job could be accomplished some other way.

So how is this humiliation and brutal murder of Jesus a good thing, so much so, that we’ve named it “Good Friday”?

Here’s why I believe Good Friday is properly named:

• When he was being arrested and one of his disciples cut of a soldier’s ear, Jesus heals this man’s ear;

• Jesus goes willingly with the soldiers arresting him, illustrating that he was in full compliance with his father’s plan

• Jesus did not defend himself when he was mocked, spat upon, ridiculed, and thought of as a fraud

• Even though the flogging he experienced was terrible, Jesus took it without complaint

• Jesus promised the repentant thief that he would enter paradise

• Inspite of his excruciating pain and suffering, Jesus asked his heavenly father to forgive his accusers and those who killed him

Because Jesus experienced such extensive suffering, and because of the way he handled it, we have an excellent example of how we should respond when we ourselves go though pain, suffering, hurt, ridicule, or humiliation at the hand of others.

The writer of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament tells us that because of what Jesus went though on our behalf, we should “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition…, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:1b-3).

The Merriam Webster dictionary tells us that in order for someone or something to be considered good, the character, personality and demeanor of that person has to be attractive to us, he has to do the right thing, he must be virtuous, ethical, moral , kind, benevolent, and he must offer us something that gives us some kind of advantage.

These qualities certainly exemplify Jesus. He gave his life, so that we might live, so to me, that’s why the day we commemorate the crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour is aptly called “Good Friday”.

(This post is based on the story of Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and death as found in the Gospels of Matthew, chapters 27 & 27; Mark, chapters 14 & 15; Luke, chapters 22 & 23; and John, chapters 18 & 19)

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