To most 'Good friday' feels like a contradiction of terms. On 'good' friday Jesus died. Death is not exactly what most of us consider the definition of 'good' but hear me out.
Consider this question. What or who is 'good'?
Am I good? Are You? Compared to who? Or 'what'?
Here is the amazing yet confronting reality.
I am not truly good, not in myself and neither are you (feeling depressed yet, just wait)
In ourselves we are broken, rebellious and are ultimately only about living life the way we want. The Bible calls this sin.
Scripture says...
“For ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God” Rom 3:23
Here is the confronting reality, our sin causes death, death literally, death in our families, death relational, emotional and ultimately Spiritually. Death is not just an interesting side bar of human existence but a central experience, the just consequence against rebellion. Sin must be judged. No right judge allows rebellion to continue just because he feels like it. That is what each of us understand as injustice.
You already know it, the pursuit of self in our world brings everything down.
YOU are what Scripture describes as a sinner, SO AM I.
What is GOOD is not really this life because no matter how 'good' we think we are, or how good life is, it is only comparing broken with broken. If this can be your best life then worry, worry a lot.
However what is GOOD about 'Good Friday' is JESUS and what he achieved for us because of love.
“He is the image of the Invisible God” (Col 1:15) Perfect, pure, holy, loving, merciful and full of grace.
So loving that...
“Whilst we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8)
Good Friday is the game changer, when sin is dissolved through the price paid and the example of selflessness given in Christ' death.
For us to truly live in his life, Christ took our death. He has taken our punishment, he carried our burdens.
HE was BEATEN, SCOURGED and HUNG on a CROSS to DIE. Why? Because God's love put him there to bear the punishment for my sin (John 3:16 - 17)
I no longer need to be ruled by sin but can TRULY LIVE because of, in and through God's GRACE. YOU can live in HIS life, if you turn from death, your way and follow him. YOU can take part in his life and the mission of God for this world.
“...he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5 – also quoted in 1 Peter 2:24)
I can have life because he takes my death. This is not just “GOOD Friday” but “I am amazed at the Love and Grace that God would have for me Friday”
BUT WAIT...This is not over yet... there's more... Jesus death is just the beginning.