03/29/2024
Good Friday
An odd name for what in some respects is the darkest day in human history. In researching out the name origins, it seems that it likely was referred to as “Good Friday” because good was an interchangeable term for Holy, thus: Holy Friday. It has also been surmised that it could be a breakdown of a day known as “God’s Friday” which morphed into “Good Friday” at some point.
Holy Friday? Certainly, it was a Holy Day. God’s Friday? Yes. Although He is the creator and author of every day, this day in specific was one that held a long-planned event, during what Scripture calls the “fullness of time.”
Good Friday. Even though that day is the culmination of man’s rejection of God, that put the most innocent and holy man who has ever lived on a Cross to suffer and die, it ultimately worked out for our good:
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” -Genesis 50:20 (Romans 8:28)
Joseph, who was a Messianic type in the Old Testament, had many of the trademark events happen in his life, as Jesus did in His: a God-given destiny to rule, a rejection by his own people, falsely accused, arrested, but ultimately exalted to the right hand of Pharoah and saving not only his family, but the Nation and the lineage to Jesus the Messiah.
When we think of the ultimate outcome of what happened on that Friday, then yes, we can call it Good Friday. We have good reason to be of good cheer, as we think about how we’ve been given the opportunity to be saved, healed and delivered from all of the consequences of our sin.
When we think of the free gift of salvation though, we must remember it was not free. There was a cost. Jesus paid a HIGH PRICE for us. He was betrayed, forgotten, denied, abandoned, rejected, scoffed at, mocked on several different occasions, assaulted, falsely accused, scourged, made fun of, lied about, beaten, shamed and killed.
This is why this day, Good Friday, is a somber day of reflection: Reflection of what Jesus willingly went through for us, that we should recall the depth of love God has for us, that He would send His Son; that we should recall the costly sacrifice that Jesus made in our place. Reflection of our lives and how we are living in light of these things?
Are we living like Jesus?
Are we forgiving like Jesus?
Are we loving like Jesus?
Are we dying to self like Jesus?
