Friday, April 19, 2019

What's so Good about Good Friday?


I initially publish this post in March of 2016.  Since I've gained new followers in the past three years, I thought it appropriate to share this reflection with you on this blessed Good Friday.

Mark 15:33-39
At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.  And at three in the afternoon, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?")
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."  Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
"Now leave him alone.  Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

What's so good about Good Friday?  This is a question I have pondered in my heart over the years.  After all, this is the day Jesus, our Lord and Savior, suffered an excruciatingly painful and ignominious death on a cross.  Shouldn't we be calling Good Friday the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Friday?

Fr. Justin Holcomb shares some insight as to why this holy day is called "good:"

Still, why call the day of Jesus' death "Good Friday" instead of "Bad Friday" or something similar?  Some Christian traditions do take this approach:  In Germany, for example, the day is called Karfreitag, or "Sorrowful Friday."  In English, in fact, the origin of the term "good" is debated; some believe it developed from an older name, "God's Friday."  Regardless of the origin, the name Good Friday is entirely appropriate because the suffering and death of Jesus, as terrible as it was, marked the dramatic culmination of God's plan to save his people from their sins.

Good for us.  No, wait!  Grand and glorious for us!

Because of Jesus' willingness to follow His Father's plan, we are forgiven our sins, once and for all.  And we can look forward to the impending Easter celebration with hope and joy, and the promise of a renewed relationship with our Father in heaven.

But for today, let us all sit at the foot of the cross.  Let us become Mary and the disciple, whom Jesus loved, who witnessed His immeasurable suffering.

Let us be present for our Lord as He gives His all for us.

Let us weep and mourn and pray.

And let us give thanks.

Amen.

28 comments:

  1. Thank you Martha for a most wonderful post. Yes; we call it Good Friday because it was the day God's plan came to fruition. He forgave our sins, through Christ's death and Resurrection.

    God bless you always, Martha, and your family too.

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    1. I'm glad this post resonated with you, Victor. A most holy day, indeed, when Jesus willingly died for our sins that we would have eternal life with Him.
      Love and blessings!

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  2. Martha, great post - I pondered this very question as I wrote in my journal this morning and came to the same conclusion. What Satan meant for evil, God turned into something amazing. A picture of what God can do in our lives when facing horrible circumstances. Taking a bad situation and turning it into opportunities for good. The key was Jesus had to submit to the will of His father... As do I.

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    1. Submission to the Father is the key, every day we live and breathe, Ryan. May we all pray, "Thy will, not mine, be done." God will work all things for good when we trust in Him.
      Love and blessings!

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  3. beautiful. Thanks for rerunning this great piece and holy reminder!

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    1. You are most welcome, Jean. Thanks for sharing the post on Facebook, too!
      Love and blessings!

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  4. Martha, I often wondered the same thing. And yes, it's good for us..Good Friday is the good news of the gospel in how Jesus took our place! Hallelujah!

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    1. Yes, the grand and glorious news for us, Karen! That Jesus chose to take our place and save us from sin never ceases to amaze me.
      Love and blessings!

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  5. Sitting with this today. Thank you, Martha.

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  6. Thank you for sharing this again. I like "God's Friday."

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    1. God's Friday . . . That's perfect, Carol!
      Love and blessings!

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    1. Easter Blessings to you, too, dear Beckie!
      Love and blessings!

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  8. I remember this post...or at least remember seeing the comic before. What a great reminder for us all! Thanks Martha. Praying you and Danny have an fantastic Resurrection Sunday.

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    1. Praying the same for you, Bill! And isn't that cartoon absolutely the best? I treasure its message.
      Love and blessings!

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  9. It was certainly the most anguished day in history for our dear Lord Jesus as far as the intense, unimaginable suffering, but it was the most wonderful day in history as far as sinful mankind having a hope of redemption. SO thankful that He was willing to take my place and hang on that old, rugged cross for my sins. I feel so sorry and unworthy to think He suffered like that because of me, and I will praise Him forever!

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    1. My sentiments exactly, Cheryl. When I stop and truly reflect on what Jesus did for me, for you, for everyone, I can't help but shed tears of gratefulness and praise for the One who bore our every sin and took them all away. Thanks be to God!
      Love and blessings!

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  10. Our Pastor touched on this subject last Sunday. Wishing you and yours a blessed Easter weekend! He is Risen!

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    1. He is risen, indeed! Allelujah!
      Love and blessings, Terri!

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  11. Praise God for Good Friday. Without Good Friday,there would be no Easter. No Resurrection...no freedom from our sins. Have a blessed and Holy Easter.

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    1. May your Easter be grand, holy and blessed, too, dear Pamela!
      Love and blessings!

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  12. Thank you addressing this today, Martha! In spite of being raised in the church, both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday have always been a source of discomfort. Dread, even. I'm 'borrowing' this clip to share on Facebook … hope you won't mind!

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    1. Share away, Mevely! These have always been difficult days for me, too, but you know what I sometimes find the hardest? Holy Saturday. I can't imagine the grief and anguish Jesus' disciples went through, thinking all was over forever. Fortunately for us, Sunday dawned and our lives were redeemed!
      Love and blessings!

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  13. Good post. Hope you enjoyed Resurrection Sunday.

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    1. Thank you, Liberty Belle! Yes, our Easter was spectacular, and I hope yours was, too.
      Love and blessings!

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  14. Martha, thank you for resharing this post. I recall what my former pastor (and the one who is still my mentor) stated one time about Good Friday. Good Friday is only good because of Sunday. That is so true...

    I've been pondering a bit how we're currently in a Friday setting but Sunday is coming! Not sure where to go with that thought but...

    Hope your Easter was blessed!

    Love and blessings!

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  15. Yes, Kim, your former pastor is spot on - Good Friday is only good because of Sunday. The empty tomb! The risen Lord! How can life and living be any better?
    Love and blessings!

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