Why Is This Day Called Good Friday?
If you have read about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, you have likely concluded that today, the anniversary of his horrific death, is anything but good. Nonetheless, Christians, Jesus’s loyal followers, call this day Good. We call this day Good Friday. Why? Simple, what man intended for evil, God intended for good.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
The Son of God
Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. No sane, honest, and good man would make such a claim if it were not true. Close your eyes and imagine the scene: Jesus is chained and surrounded by angry Jewish leaders and abusive soldiers. He has been beaten, ridiculed and spat upon since being captured in the garden of Gethsemane. The high priest Caiaphas and members of the Sanhedrin have gathered to review incriminating evidence and testimony, but they find that the evidence by itself is not compelling, they require a confession. Caiaphas points his crooked finger and, trembling in anger, orders Jesus to tell them plainly—is he the Messiah? Jesus answers that not only is he the Messiah but he will be seated at the right hand of the Father, and all will witness him coming again in glory.
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?” (Matt. 26:65–68 [NIV])
Jesus Was Shrewd Enough to Beat the False Charges, But…
Before professing his identity, Jesus knew well that if he denied his claim to deity, he would walk away for lack of evidence. Whereas declaring himself the Son of God would lead to torture and an excruciating death on the cross (a death that only hours before he had prayed to his Father, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 (NKJV)). Despite knowing the consequences, Jesus claimed without fear or pause that he is the Son of God, the Son of man.
There is no doubt, Jesus did not leave the option open to us that he was merely a good man—he professed to be the Son of the Living God. Did he do anything to prove his bold assertion? Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, all contemporaries of Jesus documented miracles that Jesus performed so that we might believe. Further, Jesus fulfilled the major and minor prophecies of the Old Testament. We found (See VerAegis Spirit) that fulfilling the forty-eight major prophecies that Jesus alone fulfilled has an inconceivable chance of 1 in 10157. In other words, fulfilling these prophecies required supernatural intervention—a miracle. In perhaps the greatest miracle of them all, Jesus defeated death. He became separate from his Father, took our sins upon himself, died on Good Friday (day one) and on the third day rose again cleansing all who believe of their sins.
Good Friday
Jesus’s death was a sacrifice to God the Father, and his sacrifice prepared the way for us, for all who chose to believe, to one day join the Father in Heaven. And, that my friends, is why we call today Good Friday!
Additional Reading: Why We Call the Worst Friday ‘Good’ | Desiring God
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