Today was Good Friday and I heard and saw quite an array of posts and greetings as I went about my day.  Some friends wished me a Happy Good Friday others completely skipped it and gave a cheerful Happy Easter.  I even saw a post on Facebook that sad “bad Good Friday” to a mutual friend.  Some people are bummed by Good Friday while others are joyful over it and it made me wonder why?  For me the day is a good day, a day to be thankful, because it’s the day Christ gave me the gift of my salvation.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

I’m not celebrating in the streets that Christ died, but it’s like watching a movie that you know can’t end with the bad guy winning, but you watch anyway.  Just to see how they work it out, but in this case we know how He works it out.  The sad part is there are people who don’t understand what makes Good Friday, good.

They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.  Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.  Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.  Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”  In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.  “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”   In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.  From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.  About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).  When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”  Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.  The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”  And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.  When the centurion and those with   him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”  Matthew 27:33-54

When Christ willingly went to the cross in our place, He took the sins of ALL mankind upon himself with Him.  To die in our place as an innocent sacrifice. Once and for all.  So that those who believe would live forever in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Without the events of Good Friday, that cross is ours to bear.  Those are our sins to be judged under and because no amount of good works we do can make up for our sinful nature without His sacrifice we have no chance of passing that judgement.

So we need to look at today as it truly is.  The Good Friday gift of Christ’s salvation to a needy world.  And 3 days later Christ completed His earthly task, by conquering death and rising from the grave.  On Sunday we will celebrate His resurrection but what we must first remember is that before His victory, there was the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 53:5

But he was pierced for our transgressions,   he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

So look upon today with sober eyes, but a thank ful heart, because what Christ did for US, He did willingly at the request of the Father, who loved us enough to give his son up, so that we would not have to face an eternity in a place that was never meant for us.

Tell me what you think?  Was your Good Friday: good…bad… or just another day?

Love in Christ,

David