We refer to it as Good Friday, but how dare we? How can we
so casually assign such an event to the category of good? We glibly proclaim
that Sunday is coming, but do we really understand what happened on that black
Friday?
It was on that famous day that my Maker, the Lord of hosts,
the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth was spat upon. He was mocked
by those who claimed allegiance to Yahweh. Like so many bullies on the
playground, they made fun of my God. You call that good?
Like a sacrificial lamb that was about to have its throat
slit, Jesus was silently led to slaughter. He was tortured, beaten and whipped.
His appearance was so marred; the crowds were astonished at him. Bloodied and
swollen, Jesus didn’t even look human. He was beyond recognition. People didn’t
look at him and say, “Who is he?” They said, “What is he?” You call that good?
He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief; as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised,
and we esteemed him not. Yet, you insist on calling that good.
But whose grief was he acquainted with? It was mine he bore.
It my sorrow he carried.He was wounded for my transgressions; he was crushed for my
sin; upon him was the punishment that brought me peace, and it was with his
stripes that I was healed. His soul made an offering that healed my soul. In
the midst of horror, good boldly asserts itself.
He didn’t even consider his equality with God something to
be held tightly, but chose to make himself nothing. He took the form of the
lowest servant. My creator counted me more significant than himself. He came to
serve me and die for me. That Friday, that Good Friday, was the culmination of
his humility.
Because he was dishonored, I was lifted up. By his blood
that soaked the cross, I was redeemed. Jesus purchased my soul with the
currency of life. Because blood and water poured from him, the riches of his
grace were poured out on me. Because of his death, redemption swept creation.
Yes, I would call that good. In fact, I would call that amazing.
Would it be
sacrilegious to call it Awesome Friday?