Was It Really A Good Friday?

(Mark 33:39) At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.” Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said,

“Surely this man was the Son of God!”

        Good Friday is recognized as the day Jesus was led to Calvary and died. We could say this was his "Homegoing" Day! The pain, suffering and agony he encountered on this particular Friday was not good. Who likes pain, suffering and agony and not having any relief? Nails driven in his hands and feet, crown of thorns pressing into his scalp and forehead and the brutal pain from the whippings on his body was no comfort at all. This was not good! However, for us, this was a Good Friday!Because of his death, we got out of debt! The debt of sin which held us captive was paid in full. Jesus redeemed us back to God on this special Friday!  Jesus paid a debt I owed and couldn't pay. The death of Christ, as terrible as it was, led to the Resurrection Sunday which brought new life to those who believe. Without Good Friday there would be no Easter!
         During Good Friday, Christians focus on the passion of Jesus Christ, or his suffering and death on the cross. Jesus' final hours on the cross lasted about six hours. I'm so glad that Jesus took a situation which was not good to him physically and made it good for us on this particular Friday!