Good Friday
My youngest son asked me why the day on which Jesus was killed is called good. I guess he has a point. On the surface it looks like a disaster. Jesus is supposed to be winning the battle and yet in many ways it looks like it is the end.
If we stop at the death of Jesus then we shouldn’t call this Friday good. It should be called sad Friday, or bad Friday. But Christians live with the knowledge of what is coming on Sunday.
Easter day is the sign to us that something good is happening through Jesus’ death. We don’t believe that this was a disaster that is overturned on Easter Sunday but that something wonderful and remarkable takes place even as Jesus suffers and dies. God doesn’t leave Jesus on the cross – here is a suffering God.
If you ever have to face suffering try to remember the crucifixion. Remember that on the cross Jesus experiences suffering just like we do. The cross is a sign of victory because Jesus suffers and dies for us. He is the one who pays the penalty for our wrong doing but so much more is also happening as he pays that price. And remember he does it for you.
Good Friday is always a very sad day but we bear it because we have seen Easter day and we know that Jesus’ death is part of Jesus’ victory.