"Good" Friday?

What's so good about it? Isn't this the day for Jesus' death on the Cross?

Yes, and that may be exactly why it's called Good Friday.

It wasn't originally. It was "God's Friday" or "Holy Friday" and has had several other names, but it's intent has always been clear, to mark the anniversary of Christ's death. The day has several traditions including "stripping the church" down to a bare altar table (that will display the Christ Candle from Christmas), a crown of thorns and a simple cross. Many other traditions include using black, dimmed lights or darkness in the worship, a tenebrae service (a sort-of reversal of the advent candles) that ends in the extinguising of the Christ candle and complete darkness to mimic the feeling of the day. It's a day meant to have a somber tone, even the music on this day are more like mourning and grief than celebration.

But why good?

As Christians we never are further than a half-week away from an Easter celebration. Each Sunday is a mini-Easter. So even in Holy Week we anticipate the great Celebration that is upon us. That old Sermon and phrase, "It's Friday, but Sunday's a comin'" holds firm and is the glimmer of light even on a dark Friday. We remember the death of Christ, even mourn his suffering while at the same time recognize Paul's word to us through the Church at Colossae,

"For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, 20 and by him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. 21 This includes you who were once so far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions, 22 yet now he has brought you back as his friends. He has done this through his death on the cross in his own human body. As a result, he has brought you into the very presence of God, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault." Colossians 1:19-22, NLT

So what does it mean for us today? We should temper our activites, read the story of the Passion, watch the film, attend Good Friday Services, maybe even fast for the day to recognize the acts of Jesus Christ just for you, and that means even if you were the only one, he still would have done it. This day is about God's Love for YOU!

This day is why we sing those strange lyrics "by his stripes we are healed", the "fountain filled with blood", "The Old Rugged Cross", "Nothing but the Blood" and dozens of others. It's because we want to remember; we NEED to remember...It's for US!

It's not just Good Friday...




...It's the Greatest Friday. It's Christ's Victory for You!

Peace ><>
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