“Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” – 1 Cor. 15:3b-4
Good Friday, which is today, is one of the most sacred days observed by the faithful in all of Christendom. From the human point of view, with all of the brutality and violence associated with this day, the goodness of it is difficult to see.
The focal point of Good Friday is our Lord’s gruesome death, by the way of crucifixion. On this day, believers remember our Lord Jesus Christ who was completely sinless and faultless, and His horrific murder on a wooden cross centuries ago in Golgotha. What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus Christ, who was innocent, was definitely not good… so why is this day called “Good Friday?”
The goodness of Good Friday is only wholly and fully understood through a Biblical perspective. Theologically, this day is good because Jesus Christ our Savior laid down His life as the perfect sacrifice for the sin of the world. He took the wrath we deserve for our sin upon Himself so that we could be forgiven and saved.
The story does not conclude, however, with our Lord’s death on the cross. Jesus’ death on the cross leads to the other paramount event of the Christian faith, our Lord’s resurrection. Three days later, through the power of God, Christ arose from the grave conquering sin and death forever.
Jesus’ death and resurrection are the sole reasons why believers have victory over sin and have a sure future with God for all eternity. This is why we can say with the Apostle Paul today, “‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55-57).
LET US PRAY…
Father, thank You for loving each and every one of us enough to send Your Son, Jesus Christ, to this earth to lay down His life so that we may be forgiven of our sins if we repent and believe in Him. Lord, we praise You today as our risen Savior who has overcome and conquered the grave. Father, we praise You, that death does not have the last word and that we who are believers in Christ share in His victory over sin and death. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
