A Good Friday Devotion – Why Good?

By Jess McCallum

 

Card-of-Good-Friday“It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit!”And having said this he breathed his last.” Luke 23: 44-46

 

Today we sit at the foot of the cross. The wood is still wet from our Savior’s blood. We recall the echos of “crucify Him” spoken by the crowd, spoken by us. What have we done? How can this be good? 

 

Ironic that a Friday, a day, filled with so much pain, sorrow, grief, suffering and agony, would be called “good.” What could be good about this day? As followers of Christ, we know what is to come, but this day, this Good Friday; why good?

 

The sacrifice of Christ is good; it is a gift of endless love promising us a life everlasting. In the sacrifice of Christ on the cross we can rest assured. First, we have a God who loves us so much that he gave us His son so that we could be with Him for eternity. Also, on Good Friday, in the midst of the suffering on the cross, we are reminded that God is with us through all walks of life. Christ knows our suffering and our pain. Christ knows the darkness we might walk in. Christ knows our physical, emotional and mental hardships and aches within our life and the lives of those around us. The beauty of the cross though is that Christ not only knows our suffering, but that Christ has suffered. In His innocence, Christ suffered an agonizing death on the cross. In your suffering, anguish, cries for those around you in pain and darkness, remember that Christ is with you and he knows your pain deeply.

 

It is in the goodness of Jesus Christ that on this day called “good,” we can rest assured that Christ knows all and is in all of our darkness. Remember, too, that Good Friday isn’t the end of the story. Christ journey on earth was not yet finished when he hung his head and died. Your suffering, your darkness, your pain isn’t the end of your story either; in His death, we are promised the resurrection. As we sit in darkness and sit with the death of our Savior, let all praise be to God the Creator of the world, who gave His Son for us to suffer a death. Let us hope for and anticipate the resurrection. Rise to new life with Him.

5 Responses

  1. Jess, your Good Friday reflection pulls you into our lives as you pull us into Christ’s life, death and resurrection. You remind us to keep the real and promised “end” for which He died in mind for ourselves and all believers. Thank you for this.

  2. I also would like to use this in my church’s devotional. May I have your permission to do so? Thank you so much.

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