Good Friday is Good News

Good Friday is a good day for Christians. Why? Because we remember the death of Christ in our place for our sins on the cross. Why is this a good day to remember when someone died? If we read the Bible we see why the death of Christ was important:

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).

"For our sake" simply put means that for our own well being. "He made Him to be sin who knew no sin." As Christ was on the cross, the sins of the whole world was laid on Jesus. Romans tells us that God put Jesus "forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" (Romans 3:25-26). Jesus appeased God's wrath so that will not have to. Those who come to faith in Christ are sons and daughters of the Most High God. Jesus knew no sin yet He took our sin upon Himself.

The final phrase of that verse, "so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" means that we become righteous in God's sight. Whenever God looks at us, He sees the perfect righteousness of Christ. Being justified means that God looks upon us just as if we never sinned because we have the righteousness of Christ.

Sam Storms wrote the following:

So, why do we speak of the Friday when Jesus was brutalized and crucified as good? It would almost seem as if there could hardly be a day that is worse! In one sense, you are correct. Jesus was unjustly tried, lied about, scourged, and sadistically crucified.

But in a far more ultimate sense this was immeasurably good. It was good for two reasons.

First, the crucifixion of Jesus, as horrible and unjust as it was, fulfilled God’s plan. Peter declared this in Acts 4:27-28 by reminding us that, in crucifying Jesus, “Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel” were doing “whatever your hand [God’s hand!] and your plan [God’s plan!] had predestined to take place.” This was no accident of history but the eternally predestined purpose of God.

The second reason that such a horrible incident can be regarded as “good” is because by means of this event, and only by this event, are we able to be forgiven of our sins and reconciled to God. Peter tells us that “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Notice three things that make the gospel the very best news there is.

First, when Jesus suffered, he suffered for our “sins.” Christ died because of or for our “sins” in the capacity of one who took the penalty for them upon himself. It is only because Jesus has died for our sins that we don’t have to.

Second, when Jesus suffered for our sins he suffered only “once” and for all time. There is no need for him to suffer again or for another sacrifice to be made. His once-for-all time atonement was perfect and sufficient.

Third, when Jesus suffered for sins, it was as a righteous person dying in the place of unrighteous people like you and me. Although he suffered for sins, they were not his own! He is the only person who has lived and died who didn’t suffer for his own sins. The death of Jesus will mean nothing to you unless you affirm both halves of this statement. You must know that you are “unrighteous” and that he is “righteous.”

Fourth and finally, Jesus suffered for our sins to “bring us to God.” That is the greatest of the good news, that because Jesus died for us, we get God!