04/19/2019
Why is it that we call today Good Friday? Why on this day of the flogging, suffering, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ do we choose to place the name Good Friday? Well, the term’s origin isn’t clear, so the original intent isn’t known, but we can surmise its meaning. Let’s discuss what, besides the horror of Jesus’ mistreatment and execution, occurred on this day.
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.”
Matthew 27:45 ESV
There were four miraculous events documented in the Bible when Jesus died. The first is that the sky grew dark. Darkness is significant in that it is symbolic of judgement, and interestingly, we also see it happening in Egypt when the firstborn were killed...
“So Moses said, "Thus says the Lord: 'About midnight I will go out in the midst of Egypt, and every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill, and all the firstborn of the cattle.”
Exodus 11:4-5 ESV
So Jesus took our sins upon himself, and by so doing would be judged in our stead for them. This happened on this day on Calvary, and it continues to happen even today.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
The second miracle was that the thick curtain that hung between the Holy of Holies, and the rest of the temple was torn in two... exposing that place where previously man was forbidden to go except once a year on the Day of Atonement when the High Priest entered to sprinkle sacrificial blood on the mercy seat.
“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom....”
Matthew 27:51 ESV
By rending the curtain in this manner, the way to God was opened through Him for all righteous men and women.
“he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”
Hebrews 9:12 ESV
The third miracle was a great earthquake, and although the damage isn't detailed in the Bible, the Talmud describes an event in which the temple was damaged in such a way that worship had to be moved away from the chamber before the Holy of Holies to the trading station.
Talmud - Shabbat 15a:
“Forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the Sanhedrin was BANISHED (from the Chamber of Hewn Stone) and sat in the trading station (on the Temple Mount)” - (Shabbat 15a)
So it is that Christian worship is no longer confined, or tethered, to a temple, but to Jesus Christ who abides within us.
“...And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.”
Matthew 27:51 ESV
The fourth miraculous event was the raising of the dead from their tombs, and these would most likely have been Old Testament Saints because scripture tells us that the dead in Christ will rise upon His return.
“The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
Matthew 27:52-53 ESV
As for the dead in Christ...
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
1 Thessalonians 4:16 KJV
So we look at these events and we answer the question for ourselves as to why today is called Good Friday. This is not a day that Jesus was forced to endure, but one that He gave himself to...
“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
John 10:17-18 KJV
This is a day in which the prophesy of the Messiah became reality, the day when our sins were redeemed, the day when we became free to walk with, and worship God, as Adam did, this is the day when all men became temples, and the day when the promise of the final return of Jesus became imminent. Jesus suffered, died, was resurrected, and ascended to sit at the right hand of God... not so that we should forever mourn, but rather that we should rejoice, and lift Him up!! Today is truly Good Friday!
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who, on this day long ago, presented himself to die for my sins, and was nailed to a cross to die that I might have eternal life. Thank you for the miraculous events that you showed us on that day, so that our faith might be bolstered, and prophesy fulfilled. Today is a day not unlike the one in which you created man, and so it is that we call this day Good... what once was lost has now been found, and we have been returned to you... made righteous by the blood of Jesus. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who gave His only begotten Son that I might be redeemed. Praised be the name of Jesus Christ the Lamb of God, and the instrument of His grace. In Him all glory is God’s, and the lost have been found and brought home.
Rich Forbes