Ever wonder why we call the Friday before Easter, Good Friday? I'll tell you why, but first we need to think back to the beginning. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. He called all of His creation good for five days. Then He created man and proclaimed, it was very good. He put man in the garden of Eden and gave him one command, to not eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The man's wife was deceived by Satan in the form of a serpent, ate the fruit then gave some to him and he ate it. Both the man and his wife were naked and unashamed before this act of disobedience. Not anymore.
The one act of disobedience had a ripple effect throughout the cosmos. Not only was the curse to fall on mankind, but on creation itself. In the Old Testament, God provided sacrifices to atone for mankind's sins but it was insufficient. Back in the garden, God promised to provide a seed from the woman to crush the serpent's head. Prophets came and testify that this promise was coming, but no knew when.
Centuries have passed and the people of God were still waiting. Then an angel appeared to a virgin girl telling her she was to give birth to the Messiah. Her betrothed was skeptical but after a visit from the angel, believed this was an act of God. The virgin gave birth in the town of Bethlehem, where they were greeted by shepherds and wise men.
The child grew and lived a perfect life of obedience in the sight of God. When he reached age 30, he began a public ministry that preached the Kingdom of God. He took men as his disciples to train them so they can teach others. For three years, he performed miracles and preached. Religious leaders were jealous and furious at him. He claimed He knew the Father. He claimed He was the Promised One.
One on faithful Sunday, he rode on a donkey in humility in Jerusalem as people shouted praise to God. He told His disciples, He was to die. One of His disciples was willing to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver to the religious leaders who hated Him. After eating the Passover meal, he told his disciples one was to betray Him. He even told one of His closest friends he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed.
He went to a garden to pray. He asked His disciple to watch but they fell asleep. Jesus sweated drops of blood asking God if there is another way, lets do it, if not, I will do your will. The traitorous disciple came with a mob giving them a signal of a kiss that was Jesus. The soldiers took Jesus, he went before the Chief Priest followed by Pilate with false accusations. While this was going on the one who betrayed Jesus, hung himself. The other who was told he would deny Jesus did and wept bitterly because of it.
It was now Friday, Good Friday on our calendar, and the crowd wanted Jesus crucified. Pilate was reluctant, but he let the people have their way. He carried His cross to a hill where he laid on the cross. He was executed from crimes He did not commit yet He did not retaliate. He made no threats against those who were wanting Him dead. Darkness came. The earth shook. Jesus cried out, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" Moments later, He said, "It is finished."
This does not sound like a "Good Friday." This Friday was the day the Son of God died. Why do we call it Good Friday? It is because the Son of God died on the cross. For our sins to be atoned for, we had to have One who would take the punishment for us or we would have to bear that punishment. The Bible says, Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:4-6).
His took the punishment by becoming sin. He took all our sin on Himself so that the wrath of God can be placed on Him. We have a substitute. He was the right substitute because He was perfect Son of God. The Bible says, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Today is Good Friday because of the good work God did on the cross. He provided a suitable sacrifice for our sins so that we can be made right with God. What is also good about Good Friday is that Jesus, our Savior, did not stay dead. God accepted the sacrifice of His Son by raising Him from the dead. The Bible says that Jesus "was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25). Christ's resurrection sealed the deal for the sacrifice made on Good Friday.
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