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In a day and age where comfort is valued over sacrifice and immediate satisfaction is desired over patiently waiting, it is hard to understand why this day is called “Good.” History would tell us that the term “Good Friday” evolved over the years most likely from the original “God Friday.”  The only thing that makes that difficult to understand, however, doesn’t change as a result of this explanation.  Why in the world would we call it “Good?” When I think of “good” things, my mind is immediately drawn to things like:

• good job
• good health
• good kids
• good behavior
• good church
• good person
• good planning

There is no actual end to this list because anything that benefits me, without requiring any felt sacrifice for me personally, is “good.”  So how is it that a day that is recognized as a day of:

• mocking
• bruising
• beating
• bleeding
• suffering
• dying

eventually becomes a national holiday that is called “good?” As I have wrestled with this over the years, there is for me only one real explanation. As a redeemed follower of Jesus:

• a Christian
• Forgiven
• Pardoned
• a Son

this day is “good” because it reminds me of His suffering which brought me healing.  It reminds me that “by His wounds we are healed.” (Isa. 53:5)  This day reminds me that as a result of His suffering I now have access to the throne of God and may approach Him in all of His glory with “freedom and confidence.” (Eph. 3:12)  This day reminds me that regardless of what comes my way in this world – because of His suffering – I am “more than a conqueror” through Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:37)  This day reminds me that because Jesus died…..I never have to!  Scripture gives me this promise in John 11:25 where Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”

When we value comfort over sacrifice and the immediate payoff over the long term investment, it really is hard to see how that Friday could ever be seen as “good.”  That day, from a human standpoint, was anything but good…..it was terrible.  However, from an eternal perspective that day was indeed “good.”  On that Friday sin and death were duped into believing they had won.  That Friday was good because it was setting up what would be a gloriously powerful, deeply anointed, grave shattering, death defeating, joy filled Resurrection Day!

May you have a blessed GOOD Friday!