I recently spotted an LED billboard with a local news service asking the question "What is good about Good Friday?" Well, I couldn't wait for them to answer the question; I just had to answer myself...
In order for us to have fellowship with God, Jesus had to die for our sins. Hebrews chapter 9 says "...according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission" and "He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many." It is "Good" because there had to be a perfect sacrifice for our sins; Jesus provided just that. In order to show that he conquered death, Christ had to die, so He could arise. 1 Corinthians 15 says "But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty." If you think about it, the bad (death) had to happen in order for the good (ressurection) to happen. But then, the bad (death) is really good, because without it there isn't any good (ressurection)...
His GREAT love. What happened on Good Friday is the true picture of love. Christ himself said love is characterized by obedience. (Jn 14:15) Thinking about how much Christ humbled Himself and how obedient He became in coming down to earth to die for the sins of mankind. (Phil 2:7-8) This shows the great love Christ had for His Father. Hebrews 12:2 says "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." The joy Jesus has in this verse isn't because He is looking past the cross and to what He will accomplish through it (otherwise joy would be found in circumstances). Rather His joy is based on His obedience to the Father through the cross. Christ's death on the cross is about obedience. I can't fathom the kind of love which would exhibit such obedience.
Even so, His sacrifice wouldn't have been necessary if it were not also for God's great love for mankind. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
What a powerful example Christ exhibited for us on Good Friday- its dynamite! Let us "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Eph 5:1-2)
Love- it puts the "good" in Good Friday.
DW
In order for us to have fellowship with God, Jesus had to die for our sins. Hebrews chapter 9 says "...according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission" and "He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many." It is "Good" because there had to be a perfect sacrifice for our sins; Jesus provided just that. In order to show that he conquered death, Christ had to die, so He could arise. 1 Corinthians 15 says "But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty." If you think about it, the bad (death) had to happen in order for the good (ressurection) to happen. But then, the bad (death) is really good, because without it there isn't any good (ressurection)...
His GREAT love. What happened on Good Friday is the true picture of love. Christ himself said love is characterized by obedience. (Jn 14:15) Thinking about how much Christ humbled Himself and how obedient He became in coming down to earth to die for the sins of mankind. (Phil 2:7-8) This shows the great love Christ had for His Father. Hebrews 12:2 says "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." The joy Jesus has in this verse isn't because He is looking past the cross and to what He will accomplish through it (otherwise joy would be found in circumstances). Rather His joy is based on His obedience to the Father through the cross. Christ's death on the cross is about obedience. I can't fathom the kind of love which would exhibit such obedience.
Even so, His sacrifice wouldn't have been necessary if it were not also for God's great love for mankind. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
What a powerful example Christ exhibited for us on Good Friday- its dynamite! Let us "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Eph 5:1-2)
Love- it puts the "good" in Good Friday.
DW
