Where Is The Good In Good Friday?

All four gospels record the death of Jesus Christ. You can read the story in Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19. Tortured, humiliated, and nailed to a cross where He was left to die. It begs the question, where is the good in Good Friday?

What was done to Jesus during His crucifixion was certainly not good. But soon, the pain of Friday would be redeemed by His resurrection on Sunday and our perspective of that day would be changed forever. The good was not the agony of His suffering but what came forth from it. The apostle Paul describes what Jesus accomplished; He "disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross." (Colossians 2:15). This is why we call it Good Friday.

Can you imagine the emotional turmoil of His disciples? That was the day hopelessness moved in. Many of them went back to the life they had forsaken to follow the Lord. It seems easy to criticize their action but we cannot overlook their reality. We have the privilege of a much different perspective than they had. We look back upon this story with knowledge of its end but they looked forward with no idea what would happen next. The fact remains, this day was good for them even though it did not seem good to them.

Good Friday wasn’t good to Jesus or even His disciples, but it was good for them and all of us too. The hope, healing, peace, and salvation that the world desperately needs comes from the cross of Christ. Following Jesus does not guarantee us a life without pain and struggle. We are promised that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28). Life is not always good, but with God, it always works together for good.

How do you handle the pain and frustration of dark and gloomy Fridays in your life? What do you do on Saturdays where God seems distant and silent? You keep trusting, be patient and stay faithful. Your resurrection Sunday is coming and Jesus will soon redeem your pain. You will learn what the first-century disciples learned, what may not have been good to you can still be good for you. Even in your fearful and frustrating Fridays, there is good because God is working in you.