Good Friday is a Christian holiday and a holy day that is well-known among believers. It is common for Christians to attend church services on this day. However, there is often curiosity regarding the meaning behind the term "Good" in Good Friday and what makes it special enough to earn that designation.
Good Friday commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Crucifixion in Roman times was applied mostly to slaves, disgraced soldiers, Christians and foreigners but very rarely to Roman citizens. Crucifixion was considered one of the most brutal and shameful modes of death. They did this outside the City and visible for all of them to see .
So if Crucifixion was a shameful act, why is that called to be “Good” ? We look at Four aspects of Goodness that came from the Crucifixion
Shame to Hope
The crucifixion of Jesus on the cross shattered disgrace and offered hope to humanity.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV) 'For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. '
If you view the Cross without Jesus, its a symbol of Shame thats why Paul writes “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” but if we have the faith thru Christ Jesus, Message of the Cross is the Power of God.
Because of the Crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross, the cross has turned to be a symbol of Hope for all of us.
How did we get this shame to hope ? there are many events that happened in the Crucifixion of Jesus
Cross by itself was a shame, as it was typically given to worst sinners and thugs by Romans, But Jesus took the cross when he was blameless of any Sin.
Jesus was mocked and shamed by putting a crown of thorns and staff in his right hand - Matthew 27:28-29 (NIV) 'They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. '
Spitting on his Face - Matthew 27:30 (NIV) 'They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. '
Took Jesus Clothes and we read they divided his clothes- Matthew 27:31 (NIV) 'After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. '
Mockery and Insults on him by passing people / Soldiers / chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders. Matthew 27:39,41,44 (NIV) - 'Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. '
Jesus endured all of this shameful acts on the cross with the deep pain and insults, he did not curse them or said a word against them, when we come and tell him our side of story he understands all of this more than any human can understand. Thats why we have a hope in Cross
We commit many Sins which are shameful, because of Jesus endurance of these shameful things at the Cross we are saved with hope to have a redemption thru him. Isaiah 53:3 (NIV) - 'He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. ' Isaiah 53:12 (NIV) - 'Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.'
Blood of Christ
John 19:30,32-33 (NIV) 'When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. '
John 19:34-35 (NIV) 'Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. '
If you read the sequence of activities happened, the soldiers tried to break the legs of the two thieves who were crucified along with him. After which when they came to Jesus they found him Dead already. Next action that a soldier did was pierced Jesus with his spear and “bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”
We never talk of Blood after a person death, but with Jesus we see “bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.” What does this tell.
We need to read what God told Moses about the purity of Blood and how he wanted the sacrifice to be done to the Lord to fulfil a vow or a freewill offering. Leviticus 17:11 (NIV) 'For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life. ' Leviticus 22:18-19 (NIV) - '“Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: ‘If any of you—whether an Israelite or a foreigner residing in Israel—presents a gift for a burnt offering to the Lord , either to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, you must present a male without defect from the cattle, sheep or goats in order that it may be accepted on your behalf. '
Now when we read on how Jesus was taken to the Cross and he was taken like a lamb offering for us, he was blameless and he was silent to take all insults and shame on him Isaiah 53:7 (NIV) - 'He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. '
We read John 19:34-35 (NIV) 'Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. What does this flow of blood signify
Forgiveness of Sins - Matthew 26:28 (NIV) 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. '
We have redemption of Sins and forgiveness thru the blood of Jesus - Ephesians 1:7 'In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace '
Cleans our Consciousness from the Sins that lead to Death - Hebrews 9:14 (NIV) - 'How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! '
Sanctification in the blood of Jesus - 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV) 'For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. '
Curse and Death defeated
God cannot stand with Sin, he is against Sin, when anyone commits a sin there is a curse that comes against us. With the Crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross, the curse of Sin is broken Galatians 3:13-14 (NIV) 'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. '
Powers of Satan was disarmed with Crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross, thats why we have been given the power and authority in the name of Jesus to Cast Satan Colossians 2:15 (NIV) 'And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. ' thats why we have the assurance of being protected by the Spirit of Jesus, so no sorcery or any magical power can touch us as the child of God.
We have many wounds and scars as we live in the world, when we die and go to eternity, all that will be taken away and we are made to be perfect, but for Jesus he has the Scars to help facilitate the healing for our life. - Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) 'But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. '
He conquered death thru his Resurrection from the cross on the 3rd Day, Death could not hold him, thats why Paul writes in Romans 6:9 death no longer has mastery over him.
Romans 5:17 (NIV) - 'For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! '
Romans 6:9 (NIV) 'For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. '
Acts 2:24 (NIV) 'But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Holy Spirit
With Crucifixion of Jesus on the Cross and his resurrection we have been given the first fruits of his own power in each of us that is the Holy Spirit, he gave this promise to his disciples Acts 1:8 (NIV) 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” '
God’s power was given to all the Believers of christ on the day of Pentecost - Acts 2:1,4 (NIV) - 'When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. '
If we receive Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior and we also get the same power to fight back against the sinful world - Romans 8:11 (NIV) - 'And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. '
Because of this Holy spirit we are having a spirit of Sonship to call God Abba, Father Romans 8:15-16 (NIV) 'The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “ Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. '
So if you step back and wonder why would any one do this when he is blameless and sinless. The answer to that is “God’s Love for us”
John 3:16-17 (NIV) 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. '
For the love that no one Should perish in Sin, he gave himself with all these hardships and gave his first fruits to us so that we are redeemed by his blood and spirit.
So if you want this Goodness of Christ in your life, Accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, Ask for forgiveness of Sin. He can bless us by cleansing of the Sin and give you a eternal life.
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