What is so good about “Good Friday”? (April 2021)

Good is when my team scores the winning goal in overtime. Good is when I walk down the street and a crisp one-hundred dollar bill is at my feet. Good is when the new baby arrives. Good is when an accident happens, and no one is hurt. Good is when a loved one gets to go home from the hospital. Good is found in a slice of pepperoni pizza, and or in a cup of coffee. Good is when one is in need and is helped. Good is my dog sitting on my lap. Good is sitting on the beach on a warm sunny day with absolutely no agenda.

Consequently, Jesus dying on a cross looked anything but good. It was a violent act. It made God look weak. The crucifixion appeared to verify the Greeks and Religious leader’s objections of Jesus. Dying on a cross while claiming to be God certainly did not endorse power. Jesus looked helpless. If he was God, then why did he not strike down the Roman guards and climb off the cross. If Jesus did that, that would be good, right?

I think I am good person most of the time. My dog thinks I am good. I pay my taxes, and I wait for people to cross the street when driving. I even tipped the guy at the restaurant the other night getting take-out. Pastor Andy Stanley wrote an article, years ago, called “Not good enough.”

A summary of the article can be paraphrased in the following manner: No matter what I do, no matter how good I think I am, I fall short of God’s standard because I have sinned. Sin separates me from God and from the eternity our hearts long for and for which we were created. My sin, regardless, if it makes the tabloids or it is known by no one, is still sin. God, who is Holy, cannot stand in the presence of sin. The payment of sin is death. However, because of God’s radical love for us He sends His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty that we cannot pay. Jesus takes our place. Jesus, who is without sin, takes upon himself the wrath of God on sin, including our own in that we could be forgiven. On the cross, we find forgiveness; and in the resurrection, we find the demonstrating power over sin and death.

I tend to believe that when Jesus yelled out from the cross, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands” the demonic world started celebrating, a little too early. I can hear the chatter. What good is the death of Jesus? Can anything good come from Nazareth?

More than ever today, I am reminded of the words from the Apostle Paul: “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)

What looked like defeat was in fact a good day on that Friday.

The overwhelming love of God.

Pastor Rich

“Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed Him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on His right and one on His left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for His clothes by throwing dice. The crowd watched, and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, ‘let Him save Himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.’ The soldiers mocked Him, too, by offering Him a drink of sour wine. They called out to Him, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself!’ sign was fastened above Him with these words: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ One of the criminals hanging beside Him scoffed, ‘So You’re the Messiah, are You? Prove it by saving Yourself—and us, too, while You’re at it!’ But the other criminal protested, ‘Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, today you will be with Me in paradise.’ By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, ‘Father, I entrust My spirit into Your hands!’ And with those words He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:32-46)