The Goodness of Good Friday

It may be hard to imagine “Good Friday” as “Good” when we review the scene on Calvary’s Hill.  Imagine standing at the foot of a cross that day under the hot Jewish midday sun. Jesus in agony, bleeding and dying.

The Bible outlines in dramatic detail the mob asking for the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. They threw a purple robe around Him and to add injury to insult, slammed a crown of thorns onto His head.  Blood trickled down His face. And, as He stood there, people came up to Him and ripped the beard from His chin.  They slapped Him, spat on Him, and mocked Him. But that’s not enough; people then come up and slap Him, spat on Him, and mocked Him. Yet, our Savior never said a word.

His clothes were stripped from His back and laid aside (later the soldiers gambled for them). Then, they tied Him to a post and a Roman soldier arrived to whip the very skin off his back. The blood that Jesus shed that day was precious. As it splattered, it healed me, you and mankind. Even the soldier who spilled it. healing mankind and even the soldier who spilled it. You see, salvation and healing go hand-in-hand.  1 Peter 2:24 reads, “Who, His own self bare our sin in His body on the tree; that we being dead to sins should live, unto righteous by whose stripes we are healed.”

Then, they marched Jesus up Calvary’s Hill to die.

What is “good” about the scene that unfolded?  Well, Jesus’ sacrifice does not have to be repeated, upgraded, or repaired. It does not have to be “new and approved” At His death He became our High Priest.  Hebrews 7:27  says, “Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.”

That shed blood on Calvary’s Hill still reaches to the highest mountain and flows to the lowest valley. It will never lose its power: the power to save, deliver and heal.

So as we are reminded today of what happened at the foot of the cross and imagine the difficult sights, sounds, and smells of consumed sin while our Savior took this upon Himself to bring us the redemption story, we are refreshed with the knowledge that “Good Friday” means the “Blood that gives me strength from day to day; it will never lose its power!”

Reverend Tonya Boyce attended Jackson Theological Seminary at Shorter College in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is married to Reverend Welton Boyce who pastors Mt. Olive AME Church in Tarry, Arkansas. Rev.  Tonya is a published author and recently launched a podcast.