It’s always seemed strange to me that the day that Jesus was crucified is called 'Good'. What is so good about it anyway? The sheer fact that an innocent man, a blameless man, was put to death on this day doesn't sound 'Good' at all. As we read through the Gospel's account of the arrest, trial and eventual execution of Jesus we really have to ask what is so ‘Good’ about it?
The Old Testament prophets left it as no secret the absolutely gruesome way that Jesus would be put to death. Isaiah 53:5 (with some additions) 'He (Jesus) was pierced (not only stabbed by a soldier on the cross, but whipped, beaten, flogged, etc beforehand) for our transgressions, he was crushed (carrying a 150-200 lb wooden cross, again beaten with whips, had a crown of thorns shoved on his head so that the thistles dug into his skin....and we're not talking about some little rose thorns, but these huge 3-4 inch thorns) for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. So this is someone’s definition of Good?!?
The Bible teaches that without the shedding of blood, there is no redemption of sin. In 'old testament times', the folks would offer 'perfect and without blemish' livestock to be slaughtered for the forgiveness of sin. God knew that there is a better way. He knew that mankind would need a way so that they (aka we) can enjoy fellowship once again with God. He would send his only son to be the one and final sacrifice for all mankind. The last ‘perfect and without blemish’ sacrifice was needed. It was his plan all along.
2 Corinthians 5:21 states ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God’. Thinking about this, God became Jesus (God in human form) who had no sin to be sin for us. When he did this, God could not look upon his only son because, in fact, he was now a sinful being. The communication was broken, the relationship was broken. Now that Jesus was now carrying our sin he had to die and to shed his blood for the atonement of sin, since Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. Jesus, willingly, lovingly took our sin, our cross upon himself.
Chris Tomlin wrote a song called 'Jesus Messiah', the opening verse says:
He became sin who knew no sin;
That we might become His righteousness;
He humbled Himself and carried the cross;
Love so amazing.
Why on earth would one without sin, become sin. He willingly took our sin, yet even today, in fact, for all eternity, upon his back. He sacrificed his unbroken relationship with his Father God, to become the blood sacrifice needed for the redemption of mankind to be able to provide that sort of conduit for us to take our brokenness back to the Father to be made whole again.
Again why? There is such a complex answer to this that it’s so easy to understand. The first verse many kids learn…John 3:16 (paraphrase) For the God of the universe, the Great I AM, the creator of all things, the Alpha and the Omega, yes this GOD so loved you, me, that neighbor that you don’t like, that person that you have to deal that annoys you, that ex-spouse that hates your very existence, your best friend, your spouse and kids…everyone; that he lovingly gave the only thing possible to restore our relationship with God, his only son to be the blood sacrifice once and for all; so that all those who recognize the gift of Salvation available through Jesus’ death and resurrection will have eternal life and a real and renewed relationship with our creator.
Without Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection 3 days later, we have no salvation, we have no hope of eternity. The sacrifice, willingly given to all, was necessary. God’s boundless, unselfish love cannot be understood in a world of self-directed love. God does not need our love, but we need his. God wants us to have a relationship with him. That is why he sent his only son into the world. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that if anyone is in Christ, that is to accept the gift of salvation, they are a new creation. What is in the past is washed away by the sacrifice on Calvary’s tree. This is truly the highest of cost to save you and me.
So now I can understand why they call this day ‘Good’.
Peace.
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