Today is Good Friday and Christians all over the world will remember Jesus’ painful passing in some sort of solemn way. As a child, I asked my mother more than once why Good Friday was considered “good.” I am not sure her wisdom rocked me and I still yearned to see the goodness of such a tragic day.
I now know that Good Friday had to happen to fulfill the scriptures and to advance God’s love in the world. No Good Friday means no Resurrection Sunday.
But, did it have to be SO BAD? The torture, the pain, the bloodshed are all unbearable to imagine. The heartbreak that must have haunted the heart of Mary, his mother, and Joseph his earthly dad and others who loved him is difficult to take in.
“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 German, for example, the day is called Karfreitag, or “Sorrowful Friday.” In English, 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.”
That message taken from the website Christianity.com assures us of not only some historical ideas but also some cultural ideas as well–all pointing to an understanding of Good Friday as what was meant to be to establish God’s love in the hearts of humans.
“The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”” (Matthew 27:54)
That statement was the first indication that God’s hand was on the day and the observers of the tragic crucifixion would soon have new messages to ponder.
You and I, too, have new messages to ponder each year on this Friday of all Fridays.
What’s on your heart today?
spiritandsoul.net 
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