But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins. Upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by His stripes we were healed.
- Isaiah 53:5
Why is it called Good Friday? Isn't it a sad day? As a child, I always asked this question. Good Friday is the day on which we remember the brutal torture and death of our Savior. How could we presume to call this a good day?
Honestly, it was not until a few years ago that I had an epiphany about Good Friday. This was the plan all along, from the beginning, for Christ to suffer and die to atone for our sins. The prophet Isaiah told of Jesus's death in chapters 52 and 53, long before Christ's birth. As we read from John 18:37 in the Passion of our Lord, Jesus tells Pilate:
"For this I was born, for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth."
He willingly left His throne in heaven and was born a man. He underwent ostracism because of His new teaching. Our innocent Lord was beaten, whipped, chained, and crucified. Christ died, knowing that His death would open the gates of heaven for us.
For me.
For you.
Think about that for a minute, and ponder Romans 5:6-8:
For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with great difficulty does one die for a just person, though for a good person one may even find courage to die.
But God proves His love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Through these scriptures, I realize that it is a Good Friday, not simply because of the crucifixion, but because of the love God displays through it.
#eternallygrateful