A Good Friday and A Better Sunday!

Today we enter into the most important weekend in the Christian calendar.  This afternoon and evening we remember the death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, reflecting on the cross. Then on Sunday, we will celebrate his resurrection from the grave. Today is what we call, “Good Friday.”  That being the case, I would like to call Easter Sunday, Better Sunday!

Now, a lot of people ask me, why the day we remember Jesus’ crucifixion is called, “Good Friday?”  After all, it was such a terrible day for Jesus and his disciples. There’s nothing “good” about looking at a bloody cross.  Actually, only in the English language is this day called, “Good Friday.”  In the romance languages such as Spanish and Italian it is called “Holy Friday.” In German it is called, “Sorrowful Friday.”  In Russian it is, “Passion Friday.”  So why do we call it, “Good Friday” in English?  I’ve learned that, it has to do with the fact that originally the word “good” had to do with that which was holy.  The words, “good” and “holy” were often closely tied together. Thus, in actuality we should be calling this day “Holy Friday” (even as the Wednesday of Holy Week is referred to by many as “Holy Wednesday”). 

However, although the suffering and death of Jesus was a very sad and terrible thing, we know that the cross is central to the “good news”—i.e. the gospel message.  The cross is central to our salvation and all that we experience through faith in Jesus for without it there would be no forgiveness of sins; we would be lost in our sins. For Jesus the day in which he died was a terrible day, but for we who are being saved we might rightfully call it a “good” day—i.e. “Good Friday.”

On the other hand, let’s remember that, as important as the cross is, it would have no meaning without the resurrection. Without Jesus’ resurrection from the dead the cross would have become for us the saddest symbol in history for it would have come to represent the death of our would-be savior.  The power of the cross is found in the fact that, the One who died on that cross was raised to new life three days later. Yes, it was a Good Friday, but it was a better Sunday!

So today, on this Good Friday, let’s take time to remember the suffering and death of our Lord Jesus. Let’s reflect on the cross and it’s importance to the good news we have received and the forgiveness that has been made available to us. But, let’s also allow our hearts to begin to look forward to and even begin to celebrate the better Sunday that is just around the corner! Let’s allow our hearts to be filled with hope and joy as we remind ourselves that the One who died on that cross is today our Living Savior!

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures….” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – NIV)

Yes, it was a Good Friday, but thankfully it was a better Sunday! 

Have a great Easter weekend.

Pastor Tim Harris