What's so good about Good Friday?

Good Friday, observed in 2020 on April 10, commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. For Christians, the torture and gruesome death of Jesus marks the darkest day in the history of the world. We believe Jesus is the Son of God. We believe He lived a perfect, sinless life. We believe He came to save us from the wrath of God that we deserve for our sin (disobedience/rebellion against God). We believe He did not deserve to be arrested, tortured, or executed.


So, how is the day of our savior and hero's unjust death considered good?

The actual name "Good Friday" has a few possible origins. I'm not here to settle that debate, but I will posit the reason that this dark day was ultimately good.

I mentioned above that Jesus came to save us from God's wrath, which is the punishment we deserve for our rebellion (Romans 6:23). And we don't have anything within ourselves that can save us (Romans 3:9–11 & 20, Ephesians 2:8–10). So, Jesus stood in our place and suffered the death we deserve, making reconciliation with God possible for us (1 Peter 3:18, 1 John 2:2)!


This is the good in Good Friday. The good news that contrasts the bad news of our state apart from Jesus. The news that we can be saved from the wrath of God and spend eternity in His presence instead! This reconciliation is not possible without Jesus' sacrificial death. This act of love for sinners, Jesus laying down his life as horrible as it was, is our saving grace, literally.


And that is what we consider good about Good Friday.


May these truths cause us to remember, reflect, and respond to the grace of Jesus.