People often ask an important question when we get to the Easter period, if Jesus died on good Friday, what makes it so good? ’What about death and blood shed, pain and turmoil is ‘good’?
Like many amazing, life changing moments in life, the answer is not some simplistic idea but something profound, inspiring and even at times difficult to hear.
So do you want the good news or the bad news first?
That line has been repeated in countless movies and conversations because good news and bad news often go hand in hand. In fact, it is often the case that good news has no basis without bad news. The same is the case with Jesus.
Here is the bad news first, without which the good news makes no sense.
In ourselves we are broken, rebellious and sinful. No amount of 'good' we attempt to do can balance out the 'bad' we do. That is not the way true justice works.
To use a weird example, a 'generous philanthropist' who kills his wife is still a murderer, no amount of philanthropy can change that. Justice must be served for the evil he has committed. Now I know, you are possibly thinking, 'but I have never killed anyone!' or 'but at least I am better than...'. Such is missing the point, we will all ultimately stand before God not our peers or a comparison court.
Scripture says, “For ALL have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God” Rom 3:23
Here is the confronting reality, our sin, which is the pursuit of things opposite to God’s desires, causes death, death literally, death in our families, death relationaly, emotionally and ultimately Spiritually.
Death is not just an interesting side bar of human existence but the real statement of the justice that God must bring against rebellion. Sin must be judged. No right judge allows rebellion to continue just because he feels like it. That is injustice.
We already know this to be true when we pause and consider life itself, the pursuit of self in our world brings everything down.
You and I are what Scripture describes as sinners.
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
“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 Grace given through Christ' death on the Cross.
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.
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... If you would like to check out the Good Friday service of Divergent Church you can do so on Friday the 30th of March at 10am at the Loft, 35 East Row, Canberra City.