Why Good Friday is so Good

John 14:1 
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

Let's be honest here. Obviously, the hours leading up to the Crucifixion seemed anything but "good" to the followers and disciples of Christ. And to the common Bible reader it seems like it wasn't even a good day for Christ. Read the chapters describing this dramatic story and you will probably come to the same conclusion.

Following a triumphant and exciting entrance into Jerusalem (John 12:12-13) he was confronted by many skeptics, experienced physical agony in prayer (Luke 22:39-44), betrayed by one of his own followers, and died after an excruciating experience. All within ONE week!

The word excruciating actually comes from a Latin word excruciare, which means, to crucify. It literally means, unbearably painful, or extreme agony. This word originates from the torture experienced in crucifixion.

That really puts the pain and disappointments that we experience into perspective, doesn't it? 

So what makes Good Friday good today? 

Now we are are probably aware that in order for Christ to have Resurrected on Sunday the Crucifixion couldn't have taken place on Friday, but we won't get into all those details right now.

We observe it on Friday; we call it Good Friday. So, again, what makes it so Good?! The simple reason is that Christ came for the Cross. He didn't deserve it. He told His disciples that He "came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45) He lovingly did for you and me. To save us. To keep us from experiencing eternal death, which would also be excruciating. 

I love how Oswald Chambers describes what Jesus did on the cross:
"The Cross was a superb triumph in which the foundations of hell were shaken. There is nothing more certain in Time or Eternity than what Jesus Christ did on the Cross: He switched the whole of the human race back into a right relationship with God. He made Redemption the basis of human life, that is, He made a way for every son of man to get into communion with God." - Oswald Chambers

Understandably, Christ's disciples didn't understand the good that came out of the Crucifixion until they saw Him resurrected a few days later but we can reflect on the selfless act of love that was performed for us. Oh, what love! What grace! We are redeemed by the sufferings of Christ. THAT is what makes Good Friday so SO good!

"No scene in sacred history ever gladdens the soul like the scene on Calvary.
 Nowhere does the soul find such consolation as on that very spot where misery reigned, 
where woe triumphed, where agony reached its climax." - C. H. Spurgeon

What impact has the Cross made on you today?

                                                                                                                                        Written by: Sonia E. Vargas