Why is Good Friday “Good”?

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Today is not an ordinary day.  No, today almost 2000 years ago, one man was executed for a crime he did not commit.  On the calendar it is recognized as “Good Friday,” but I started to think about this why do we call it good friday?  There wasn’t anything good that happened on that day.  On that day, Jesus Christ was brought before the crowds that He healed, He taught, He loved, and shared His life with.  He never once pleaded His case, He simply took on the sins of the world.  He stood there as a sinless man and took on every sin of men and women before Him and the ones who would come after Him.  Then He was whipped, crowned with thorns, led up a hill, and hung on a cross.  I haven’t seen anything good yet!  In fact, the people of Jesus day were probably losing hope, not knowing that He was about to follow through on every prophecy in the Old Testament.

The Savior was going to come back to life in 3 days.  This was the good news.  The grave could not keep Him.  Death could not stop Him.  Hell could not take away the power within Him.  In fact, the stone was rolled away that covered His grave.  He shattered the bondage of death, so that we could know eternal life.  He broke the power grip that satan tried to keep over our lives by taking on Hell for us.  He overcame it all!  He is our sustainer.  In fact, “Good Friday” is known to have roots as being known as “God’s Day.”  I don’t think you have to wonder why.  God showed up.  He came to the earth as a man to take on death and overcome it for all mankind.

In Hebrews we see that through Jesus Christ we have faith, hope, and love.  May we learn to walk in all of these through this day and take this season as a time to celebrate what Christ has done!

1.  FAITH

“…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…”  (vs. 22)

Jesus has broken the barrier that stood between us and God.  The curtain has been torn in two.  We now have the freedom to come to God whenever we want because of Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross.  We need to rest assured that our full trust can be put in Jesus because He put it all on the line for us.  He didn’t hold anything back!  He gave it all!

2.  HOPE

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (vs. 23)

The Good News of hope promises a new relationship with Jesus, a friend who sticks closer than a brother, forgiveness, eternal right standing with God the Father, freedom from guilt and fear.  God has given us our names written down in the Book of Life through the accepting of His Son Jesus Christ.  We continue to have hope in Jesus because of the lasting words He gave us through every story in the Word of God.  His Truth will not fail us, it will guide us and lead us to His everlasting arms in eternity.

3.  LOVE

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  (vs. 24)

As we focus on the cross and all that Jesus has done for us, may we take the time to consider the love it took to get Him through it all.  May we consider taking that love to all those who are around us, those who know Christ, and those who have yet to know of Him.  This time of knowing Christ and remembering Him is a time to reflect on His great love.  May we never take that love for granted, but continually remember to give it daily to those we come in contact with.  God’s love is not something we can keep inside.  It’s not ours to keep!  Jesus died for the great love that we know, we should be stirred inwardly to share the love He inspired even to the man who was next to Him on the cross.  He promised to bring this man into eternity.  (Luke 23:32-43)

Be inspired by what you read in the Word of God and live it out daily.  Jesus was a walking testimony that Faith, Hope, and Love can exist on a daily basis.  He believed in it enough to die for it.  Will you believe in it enough to live for it?

Dear Father God, I pray that my life will exhibit extreme faith, endless hope, and no expiration to love.  May I continue to grow in You.  Thank You for sending Your Son to die for me and giving me a bridge to You.  I’m ever grateful for the life I am able to live in You because of the life Your Son lived for me.  May my life be one that makes a difference for Your Kingdom!

Living a Life of Faith, Hope, and Love,