What’s so Good about Friday
Categories : Bible, Celebration, Personal, Thoughts |
Good Friday. At a simple level, giving it a brief thought, it’s a bit of a silly name. How can this Friday be good? The name is as paradoxical, as nonsensical, as the events of the day itself. How can the execution of an innocent man be a positive thing? How can a crucified man be the Messiah? The answers to these questions may seem straighforward to us who live in the world after Sunday, but put yourself in the position of the people of Jerusalem that day, especially the followers of Jesus - to them the day would be anything but ‘good.’ Indeed, put yourself in the shoes of someone in that world hearing the gospel message for the first time - it would sound completely crazy. Utter foolishness! (1 Cor 1:21-25
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We’re so used to the day being “good” it sometimes helps to remember just how “bad” it must have felt that first day. So many times I’ve heard it spoken that “We don’t need to be sad today remembering the crucifixion. We don’t need to be sombre and quiet, because we know the secret of what happens next. We know what happens on Sunday. Therefore, even though today is Good Friday, we can still celebrate the risen Jesus!” Now that’s all true but I think that approach misses something, something that the historic church with it’s liturgical calendar etc still appreciates. It doesn’t hurt to be sad on Good Friday. In fact it’s probably a healthy thing for us to try and appreciate just how serious, how awful, how painful and tragic this day really was. Remember the disappointment and brokenness of the disciples - their leader betrayed and murdered, their dreams shattered. Remember Mary, at the foot of the cross, her own heart pierced watching her son suffer. And remember the physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish of Jesus, forsaken by men and by God. Sure, we know the good news that comes after, the joy of the resurrection, but it helps to remember part of why that news is so good, and part of that is the contrast with the badness of Friday. So there’s nothing wrong today with a little dose of sorrow, brokenness and mourning (which I can relate to following the funeral of my grandfather this week) Good Friday is a day of power, a day of change, a day of fulfillment. I hope that many people stop and remember that today.
