Why is Good Friday good?

Why is Good Friday good?

Many are still wondering how Jesus being crucified on the cross was good?

If I know what is good and never share it with you, what good is that?

First, we think we are good enough in and of ourselves to all reach or enter Heaven. We think our “doing enough good things” will override all our sins and the bad things we have done.

None are “good” enough to earn the free gift of salvation or the prize of Heaven. This is grace – God giving us not what we deserve, which is death that leads to eternal separation from God. This is grace – God giving us what we don’t deserve – amazing grace, forgiveness, and a secured future in our heavenly home forever united with Him. We will all die physically, but we will not all enter Heaven, unless we have accepted the payment for our sin debt covered by the blood of the only good enough one, our Savior Jesus.

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for He was looking ahead and including them in what He would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate His righteousness, for He himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus. Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

Romans 3:21-28 New Living Translation

He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

2 Corinthians 5:21 The Amplified Bible

(See also Isaiah 64:6; Romans 8; Hebrews 7:27)

For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].

Ephesians 2:8-9 The Amplified Bible

If I know what is good and never share it with you, what good is that?

Grace not only covers our sin, but empowers us to live forever free from sin.

Those who understand God’s amazing grace and have received the fullness of His love and grace are not looking to the cross of Good Friday as a crutch to remain entangled in a lifestyle of sin. As we receive the fullness of God’s grace and truth from our Savior Jesus, His amazing grace empowers us to live freely by faith overcoming sin and temptation every good day. Jesus died on Good Friday to defeat sin and was resurrected 3 days later to demonstrate His power over all sin and death. As we surrender to Him and the same power that raised Him from the dead, the power of the Holy Spirit, we defeat sin and its power to control and enslave us. We are then free to live a new resurrected life as overcomers in Christ. (See Romans 6)

Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. …Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

Romans 6:5-7, 13-14 New Living Translation

Today can be a Good Friday and a good life from now to eternity as we accept God’s goodness, grace and mercy that His blood paid the price for us all to receive. The benefits of Good Friday are available to all – to all believe and receive. (See John 1:10-13; 14:6; Romans 10:9-13)

If I know what is good, and never share it, what good is that?

If I love you, I will share what is good from God’s perspective with you. I will share the goodness, the love and the truth the good good Father God has brought into my life with you that has set Joyful Jenny free. God’s love demonstrated for all on the cross not only covers the payment for all our sin, but sets all the captives free from the curse of the law.

Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “ Cursed is everyone who hangs [crucified] on a tree (cross)”—

Galatians 3:13 The Amplified Bible

(See also Galatians 5:1; 1 Peter 3:18)

Who do you know who is good like this?

✝️ Will pay for all of your debts?

✝️ Will forgive and forget all your sins?

✝️ Will love you unconditionally, even when you don’t love them?

✝️ Will freely give their life for you to freely live?

✝️ Will never leave or forsake you?

✝️ Will share His inheritance with you?

✝️ Will correct, guide and walk alongside you all the days of your life?

✝️ Will share your suffering, sorrow, pain and grief, and bring comfort, healing, freedom, peace, provision, and a restoration of joy and abundant life?

Only Jesus. The Lord is good and His suffering in our place demonstrates clearly why the cross and Good Friday are both good reminders of God’s goodness, mercy, sacrificial love and amazing grace.

What good is God calling you to share with someone today?

God is good, all the time. All the time, God is Good. Why not share some of your good good Father’s goodness and grace with others today.

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him.

Nahum 1:7 New Living Translation

The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation.

Psalm 145:9 New Living Translation

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep.

John 10:11 New Living Translation

Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God shows His great love for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ made us friends of God.

Romans 5:7-11 New Living Translation

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him.

Hebrews 9:27-28 New Living Translation

A Good Prayer:

Father God, I come to You acknowledging that You are God. I believe that in Your goodness, kindness and mercy, You sent Your only Son, Jesus, to die for my sins and to pay for my full sin debt on the cross of Calvary. I repent of my sins. I renounce them and turn away from them today. I thank You for forgiving all my sins. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who came in the flesh, walked the earth as the only perfect One who never sinned and willingly laid down His life for me on the cross so that I might live free from sin and its ultimate effects of eternal death and separation from You. I believe You raised Jesus from the dead demonstrating Your triumphant power over all sin and death. By faith, I accept your free gift of salvation today. Fill me with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for forgiving me, saving and healing me and setting me free from every sin and trap of the enemy for all eternity. Guide me, teach me, and lead by Your Holy Spirit and Your Word into all truth, so that I might know You and walk in a life giving relationship with You. Awaken desires and all the good gifts you planted in me while I was yet in my mother’s womb and the good gifts of the Holy Spirit, that will bring You honor and glory and will serve others for Your kingdom’s purpose. I stand on the promise in Your Word that You will complete all the good You have begun in me as my heart remains fully surrendered to You all the days of my life. Surely, Your goodness, unfailing love and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forevermore. Amen.

A few other references about the goodness of God: 1 Peter 1:3-5; Hebrews 13:5; John 10:1-11; 14:15-21; Romans 8:11; Isaiah 53:1-10; Jeremiah 1:5; 17:14; Philippians 1:6; Psalm 23; 86:5; 103:1-5; 107:1; 111:7; 116:5; 118:1, 29; 119:68; 135:3; 136:1