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"When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished."
Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit."
(John 19:30; CSB)
Today is Good Friday. I remember growing up, we would do these fun choir concerts around Easter. One year, we sang a song about Good Friday. We had these little masks where one side had a happy face and one had a sad face. The song lyrics went like this: "It was a good day, on a bad day. You heard it right, I'll say it again... But that good day, on a bad day, was a great day for me." Now, I will spare you too many further details, like how the masks were turned back and forth at every mention of good and bad, but the song has stuck with me all these years!
The song tells of the irony of Good Friday. How can a day be "good" when a just, perfect individual was horrifically murdered by an angry mob? How can this be a good day when a sinless person was brutally beaten, mocked, spit upon, and ridiculed? How can this be a good day when the Son of God is hung on a cross? The only way this day can be seen as "good" is if we know Sunday is coming!
Jesus did not stay dead.
Jesus did not stay in the tomb.
Jesus arose!
When Jesus endured "good" Friday, He knew Sunday was coming. He knew resurrection was in His future. He was enduring the cross and the shame of it for all of humanity. He was choosing to be the substitutionary sacrifice for my sins and yours. He was taking the wrath of God on Himself so that people would have the chance to be in right standing with God. Jesus is the reason this seemingly horrible, wicked day can be called "good".
On this Good Friday, may we reflect on all that Jesus endured for us. May we reflect on this truth and then be burdened for our friends and family who do not know Jesus and have never experienced the redeeming work of Jesus, paid on the cross of Calvary. May we be burdened for these people and not just leave our burden there, but go and talk to them about the finished work of Jesus and how He desires to have a relationship with them! May we let the cross of Christ and the empty tomb drive us this Easter season to talk to as many people as we can about the Good News of Jesus Christ.
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