I was talking with a bright ten-year-old student the other day regarding the
significance of the Passion Week and the events leading to Easter. After I finished,
she asked, “Why is Good Friday called “good”? I think it should be called
Bad Friday.” And honestly, for all practical purposes, she’s got a good
point. Why in the world would anyone refer to any aspect of the Good Friday
narrative as good? When considering this was the day that Jesus was mocked,
beaten, crucified and hung to die; literally His absolute worst day on earth,
it’s altogether reasonable to question any good being connected with this
event. So, I concluded my response by saying the obvious, that without Good
Friday we could never celebrate the empty tomb and the risen Savior, and this
seemed to appease my young friend’s concerns, at least temporarily. But for me,
and for us today, I believe it is altogether right to think well of this day by
considering that which is truly good about the day we remember and honor as
Good Friday.

As I begin this writing, I am reminded of the words recorded by the apostle Luke:

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with
power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were
oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the
things that He did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.”

Acts 10:38-39 NASB2020

I love this verse as it testifies to the consistent goodness of Jesus. Throughout
His lifetime and leading to His final breath on the cross, Jesus’ life resulted
in good works. On the darkest day of biblical history, also known as Good
Friday or Holy Friday, the Son of Man is crucified and hung to die. And
even then, only good continues to emerge through His final hours on earth.
Although there are countless, amazing blessings as a result of the Friday Jesus
was crucified, I have chosen to reflect upon simply a few, beginning with the
testimony of a Roman guard.

The Centurion’s Confession

The unnamed centurion in this narrative was in the employ of the Roman government.
He was assigned with the task of guarding Jesus, the man condemned to die for
His proclamation as King of the Jews. Following Pilate’s decision to release
Barabbas, a convicted murderer in exchange for a seemingly innocent man, Jesus
was placed under the careful watch of the centurion. This man would have seen
absolutely everything Jesus endured on the day of His death. He witnessed the
false accusations of the religious leaders. He heard the taunts, jeers and
mockery offered by the crowd. He further watched as Jesus was flogged and
nailed to a cross, never retaliating or answering his accusers. He also
witnessed displays of extraordinary compassion for a dying man, true
forgiveness for his enemies, and sincere care for His mother. Finally, he heard
Jesus exclaim, “it is finished” and watched Him breathe His final
breath. And standing in amazement He declares,

“Truly this Man was the Son of God!””

Mark 15:39 NASB2020

Praying for his Enemies

In Jesus’ longest recorded sermon, He stood on a mount before a mass of people,
sharing a radical message that was completely counter cultural, challenging the
social norm, and defying the current religious legal system. Included in His
famous Sermon on the Mount were many teachings that captured the main tenets of
Scripture including that of rightly responding to enemies.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute
you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in
heaven….”

Matthew 5:43-45 NASB2020

And just moments before his death, Jesus, practicing the very words He preached,
pronounces words of blessings over His enemies,

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:34 NASB2020

The Thief on the Cross

As Jesus, the innocent, is hanging on the cross positioned between two guilty
thieves, also nailed to crosses, one of the convicted men begins to mock Jesus
with sarcastic insults regarding His presumed inability to save Himself. The
man positioned on the other side, however, senses Jesus’ innocence,
acknowledges His unjust punishment, and perceiving His authority reaches out
with a request, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”

Luke 23:42 NASB2020

And Jesus, the Savior of the World, responds. “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Luke 23:43 NASB2020

Jesus Maintains His Identity

When Jesus faced Pilate for yet another series of questions regarding His identity,

…Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?

John 18:37 NASB

He had already undergone similar inquiries that same day; first with Annas, the
father-in-law of Caiphas, and following with Caiphas the High Priest. And each
time Jesus consistently responded with the truth regarding His identity and His
mission.

Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this purpose I have been
born, and for this I have come into the world: to testify to the truth…. “

John 18:37 NASB

I find this to be incredibly noteworthy, and in all respects good as under
severe pressure, Jesus never succumbed to the temptation to deny His existence
or His mission.

Jesus Cares for His Mother

Throughout His entire life Jesus had experienced the constant and consistent love of His
mother. Now on this day of severe trial and tremendous anguish, following His
betrayal, arrest and crucifixion, the majority of His disciples, excluding
John, have fled in fear, abandoning Jesus, leaving him alone to die, but not
his mother. Since the very beginning she has been with Him. Mary first carried
Jesus in her womb, then in her arms, and now as her son hangs on a cross dying,
she carries her son the only way possible, in her heart. As Jesus looks down
from the cross, He can see His mother gripping the hands of her two supportive
friends standing with her and His heart is moved with compassion. Although Mary
had been forewarned when Jesus was born that her heart would one day be pierced
(Luke 2:35) she was in no way prepared for this day. As her Son and her God,
Jesus understands Mary’s anguish, physically feels her broken heart, and on the
cross He is actually carrying her pain. So, responding as a compassionate
Savior, Jesus summons His strength, and from the cross secures provision and
protection for His mother.

“So, when Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He
*said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He *said to the disciple,
“Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own
household.”

John 19:26-27 NASB

It Is Finished

Included in the seven last sayings of Christ from the cross, are three of the most
powerful, beautiful and significant words Jesus had ever spoken, and these
words continue to speak today,

“…It is finished!…”

John 19:30 ESV

These words are incredibly significant, life changing and altogether empowering.
Included in these three words are the following personal promises to every
individual who will receive them and believe them….

When Jesus said it was finished, He was declaring the following:

  • I have overcome the enemy on your behalf (Col. 2:15, Rev. 12:11).
  • I have purchased your freedom (Col. 1:14-16).
  • I bore your curse (Galatians 3:13).
  • I carried your sickness (Ist Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:5).
  • I purchased your peace (Ephesians 2:14).
  • I abolished every fear you face (1 John 4:18).
  • I took your shame, guilt and condemnation (Hebrews 12:2, Isaiah 6:7, Romans
    8:1).
  • I have made a way for you to be forever with my Father (John 14:6).

The Veil was Torn in Two!

“And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the
earth shook and the rocks were split.”

Matthew 27:51 NASB2020

After Christ’s declaration of “It is finished”, He released His spirit to God
and died. Whereas His entrance into the world was rather quiet, seemingly
normal, capturing the attention of only a few shepherds working the night
shift, His exit out of the world would most definitely have made the Jerusalem
Herald headlines. On the final Friday of Jesus’ life on earth as He releases
His last breath, the following staggering events were immediately set into
motion…

  • The curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51).
  • The earth shook and rocks were split open (Matthew 27:51).
  • The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead,
    and these very people went into Jerusalem and appeared to many
    people. (Matthew 27:52 & 53).

And while each of these occurrences are absolutely worthy of consideration, it is
only the first event that has eternal significance. The veil in the temple was
instituted under the Mosaic covenant and was established for the purpose of
separating that which is common (man) from that which is Holy (God). Only the
priest was permitted to enter beyond the veil to the Most Holy Place where the
Presence of God dwelt. The High Priest served as a mediator, offering the
sacrifices, prayers and petitions to God on behalf of man. And on Good Friday
when we remember Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross, we simultaneously
celebrate the veil in the temple that was torn from top to bottom, eradicating
the need for any further separation between God and man forever!

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place
because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving
way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.”

Hebrews 10:19-20 NLT

The Father’s Good Plan was Accomplished

And for my final thought regarding that which is truly good on Holy Friday, I am
reminded that it was because of God’s extravagant love for His people that He
subjected His dearly loved Son to an excruciating death on a cross for sinful
people; people like you and people like me (John 3:16). On Good Friday, yes
truly, Good Friday, we remember that Jesus was our Passover Lamb, taking
the sins of the world upon himself (your sins and my sins), nailing them to a
cross, providing us with eternal forgiveness and 24/7 access to God! And
finally, on Good Friday, it is with great gratitude that we give thanks to our
merciful, compassionate God for the gift of salvation we have received through
His Son Jesus, who died that we might live.

“But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life
is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a
long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.”

Isaiah 53:10 NLT

God bless my friends as you remember Jesus on this truly Good Friday!