Good Friday
Jesus was known for doing good but many did not like him
It seems pretty odd that well over two billion Christians around the world each year remember Jesus’ betrayal, brutal beating, torture and cruel death — and call it Good Friday.
Jesus was a Jew from a small town that was known as Judea. He was born and died under the occupation of the Roman Empire — (under Emperors Augustus and Tiberius) and he and his parents were also refugees in Egypt for a time.
Jesus was known for doing good, bringing healing, care and forgiveness to society’s marginalised and outcast. Jesus touched and healed lepers, gave sight to the blind, preached care for prisoners and valued women in a time when they were often viewed as inferior.
But, despite this, many of the Jewish religious leaders of the time did not like him and his message. On the day we now commemorate as Good Friday, Jesus was falsely accused, betrayed, beaten, whipped, mocked and executed. Death on a cross — called crucifixion — was a slow and particularly cruel and painful form of Roman execution.
So how can that possibly be ‘good’?
The answer lies in understanding why God sent Jesus into the world and who Jesus was. And, in the fact that Jesus’ death was not the end of the story, but a beautiful beginning!
God’s plan for humankind
The Bible teaches that when God created the world, there was perfect harmony between God and people (and between people and people). But Adam and Eve brought darkness to the world through their sin and disobedience.
God was heartbroken
A plan was set in motion to show people God still loves them and wants to be in relationship with them. That’s where Jesus — God’s Son — comes in.
God the Father sent Jesus, his Son, into the world as a small baby. He came quietly, humbly and without fanfare.
He was sent into the world to show love and to reconcile humans with their Creator.
Throughout Jesus’ time on Earth, he experienced life as a human.
He walked alongside people on Earth and understood through first-hand experience just how hard life could be. He knew what it was like to be hungry, tired, alone and grieving. He cared for, and understood, people from all walks of life and showed great love, compassion, grace and mercy.
But his life, death and resurrection were about more than simply being good and caring.
In order for people to be reconciled with God, the just penalty of all our wrongdoings and sin had to be paid for, atoned for, basically, put to death.
And so Jesus took the weight of these upon himself. He took our mistakes, brokenness and shame upon himself and put them to death on the cross so we could be free of it all. He sacrificed himself for us so we could be in a perfect, peaceful relationship with God, with meaning and purpose for our lives. The name ‘Jesus’ — chosen by God before his birth — even means ‘Saviour’. “He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, NIV).
Why is Good Friday significant?
Jesus paid the price for our wrongdoing
When Jesus died on a cross (crucifixion) all the world’s sin and darkness was placed on his shoulders so that we, and all people, could have the opportunity of a new life in relationship with God, without the barrier of sin. Jesus’ sacrifice and atonement (the price he paid for all humanity) is one that is reflected on by Christians around the world, especially during Holy Week.
The path Jesus walked to the cross was the toughest journey anyone has faced. The Bible says Jesus was “sorrowful and troubled” (Matthew 26:37). But in this moment of suffering and struggle, Jesus prayed to God, his Heavenly Father, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Instead of stopping Jesus’ suffering, God gave Jesus the strength to endure the path to the cross. This was part of God’s greater plan of redemption for the people of the world who he loved so much. On our behalf, Jesus experienced the most excruciating and humiliating death of his time. He was betrayed, rejected, mocked, whipped, stripped bare and nailed to a cross. It was a painful, undignified and public way to die. Good Friday is significant because Jesus endured every terrible aspect, to give hope to the whole world.
Jesus’ final words on the cross were, “It is finished” (John 19:30, NIV). Although it seems at first glance that humans were in control of Jesus’ punishment, Jesus could have stopped the process at any time. Angels could have rescued him. But he persevered because his love for people was greater than the pain he felt.
God loves us so much that he gave up everything so that we could experience true and everlasting life.
“For here is the way God loved the world — he gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life” (John 3:16, TPT).
How do we celebrate?
While traditions and customs vary — all celebrations are filled with hope.
Some remember Jesus’ journey to the cross, fasting (not eating for a period of time), praying and attending church services.
Some church services may conclude with a morning tea of hot cross buns to remember Jesus’ death on a cross, and some Christians may choose not to eat any red meat on Good Friday in remembrance of the blood Jesus shed on the cross.
It's a very good day
Regardless of how Good Friday is commemorated, there is often a great deal of anticipation, because three days later, on Easter Sunday, Jesus’ rising from the dead is celebrated.
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can have a true and meaningful relationship with God. We can experience unconditional love and everlasting hope.
Jesus held on to this hope for us so that we can hold on to his hope in our own lives.
So while Good Friday is in many ways a very sad and sombre holy day, it is also truly a good day.
A very good day indeed.