An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Good Friday
(Leaving this one top all day. Any new posts will be below.)
Growing up, attending church, I always asked just why it was called Good Friday. From what I knew at the time, as a child, it didn’t sound very ‘good’ to me. As a matter of fact, it sounded horrible. No one ever gave me a satisfactory answer. Perhaps they thought I wouldn’t understand? I was too young? Honestly, NO ONE is ever too young for the Truth.
So why call it ‘Good Friday’?
Matthew 27:27-34
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.
28 And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.
31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.
32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,
34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.
Doesn’t sound too good to me. How about a visual?
As horrible as it is to watch, this was just a movie, and the REAL pain suffered that day by my Lord was much more gruesome. I wonder how many people would be able to suffer in such a manner, and still stand tall? I wager, not too many.
How is this good? It boggles the mind, doesn’t it. Well, I’m going to attempt to explain it, in my own way. The ‘Good’ comes from what He suffered….FOR US! Yep, we are the recipients, as unworthy as we are, He gave us a Gift, in the hopes that we would never have to suffer. THIS is why it’s Good Friday. Simple, isn’t it.
How many of us have squandered that Gift? Churches no longer preach the Gospel, no longer adhere to the teachings of Christ, no longer see God as the answer to the questions, especially in today’s society.
Me? I cry for the pain, and rejoice in the Gift.
Luke 23:33-46
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Many asked, why didn’t He just slay all the bad guys? To what purpose? To save His own life? How would that have helped the world? What would that have said?
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Well, I can’t see anyone giving as much as Jesus did, can you? True, we have soldiers today, fighting on the front lines, in the hopes of keeping our nation safe, lay down their lives. For this, they are to be praised, and appreciated. But even our soldiers don’t endure what Christ did for us. Our soldiers can’t forgive us for the sins we have committed. Jesus can. And once you ask for that forgiveness, and start living through His teachings, nothing will ever be the same. Just praying the pray doesn’t work, you actually have to make changes in your own life.
I AM His friend, and He laid down His life for me. Can I do less for Him?
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Yes, this is GOOD Friday! I, for one, am grateful! I am, unapologetically, NOT ASHAMED!
Good in this case is an old English adjective meaning Holy.
I’m sorry no one was ever able to explain it to you in a satisfactory manner while you were growing up. Your notes above certainly explain why modern Christians consider it “Good” though!
He is Risen!
He is Risen indeed!
Yeah, I know the history with the word now, but as a kid….that didn’t mean diddly. LOL And I’m just a simple person, don’cha know.