Good Friday. It seemed to be anything but good as Jesus was betrayed by one who had walked with Him, listened to Him, seen Him do miraculous works, and watched Him compassionately care for others; as Jesus was arrested in the dark of night by a band of soldiers who treated Him as a dangerous criminal; as Jesus was taken before the authorities and falsely accused; as He was rejected by all those who knew Him and had called Him their Lord and Master; as He was condemned to a cruel death for crimes He had not done; as He was mercilessly beaten to the point of being unrecognizable; as He was mocked, spit upon, and ridiculed. This day seemed to be anything but “good” as Jesus was taken to a hill called Calvary and harshly placed on a cross; and as Jesus bled and suffered. Good Friday did not seem good, but Jesus did not complain or call to be set free. “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit” (Matthew 27.50). He was taken off the cross and placed in a tomb, dead.
Good Friday. But, it was good because of what Jesus did for us. It was good because Jesus, the Son of God, had become the Perfect Lamb of God sacrificed as the full atonement for all our sin; because in the shedding of His blood He forgave us of all sin, purified us of all unrighteousness, and purchased our redemption; it was good because He willing took our place in punishment, that we would be set free from the bondage of sin and our rightful penalty of eternal judgment. It is a good day, because it is not the end of the account of Jesus Christ, for on the third day He rose from the coldness of the tomb declaring His absolute victory over all sin and death, over all its penalty, over His and our cruel enemy. Jesus said, “because I live, you also will live” (John 14.19). Now we can live as a new creation in Christ and have the hope of eternal life in His Holy Presence. This is a good day, not because of His pain and agony, but because what was accomplished through His pain and agony – our salvation. May we be humbled in considering His sacrifice on our behalf, walk with Him in faith, and have great joy knowing our Redemption is secure in Christ our Lord.
Alas, and did my Savior bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
Was it for sins that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut His glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker, died
For man, His creature’s sin.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears.
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.
But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
’Tis all that I can do.
Isaac Watts
Considering Good Friday – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 