When Good Seems Bad

 

"Good Friday is a day of hope disguised as sorrow."

~unknown

Good Friday always seemed like an erroneous word to me when I first became a Christian.  It seemed like a day filled with whippings, wrongful accusations, hatred, torture, abuse, and crucifixion for our sinless Savior should never be labeled as good.  But then, as Peter was scolded in Matt 16:23, I see that I was not setting my mind on things of God, but rather looking at things the way Satan would have them.  

Christ Carrying the Cross, Luis de Morales 1565, Getty Museum

In order for you and I today (as well as countless others in the past, here now, and in the future) to be able to be reconciled to God, Jesus had to fulfill these prophecies and die.  He had to sacrifice His sinless Self for our sin, deny His own comfort and power to overcome their evil, so we could be reconciled back with God and spend eternity in heaven.

"So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you." 2 Cor 4:12

As humans, we only see the here and now; we feel the pain or emotion of the present, and it's hard to see the future byproducts of our circumstances.  

The Crucifixion by Fra Angelico, The Met

So we look to the source of wisdom, hope and joy - God's Word-that we can trust as truth for our good.  We let a familiar verse resonate in our souls and ask God to help our unbelief-

"And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good,

for those who are called according to His purpose." Rom 8:28

And we saturate our minds around the belief that no matter what, whether the turbulence in our lives be intentional or not, we serve a powerful God who sees all, knows all and controls all.

"As for me, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" Gen 50:20

Bodminchurch.com image

On this day over 2000 years ago, He sent His one and only Son to this broken earth so we can one day go to His perfect heaven and be with Him.  What seemed like the darkest day the earth has ever known ended up being the most powerfully loving gift we could receive.  Our God can use everything in our life for our good and His glory.

It was indeed a Good Friday.

✙ Dear Heavenly Father, this day is a somber day of remembrance that ends in joy - You suffered on my behalf so I could be reunited with You.  What a sacrifice You made for me!  Saying thank You isn't even enough.  Help my living be in gratitude. Amen.