The Good in Good Friday

I remember when I was six or seven years old, it dawned upon me that what was called Good Friday didn't seem very good at all. In fact, the thought of Jesus Christ, who at that time I knew merely as the Son of God and good teacher, being nailed to the cross to die didn't seem good at all. As a very young nominally Catholic boy, it seemed awful that this good and decent man was killed. What was good about it? It seemed downright awful.

Throughout the years as I've grown in faith, it's become clear to me that that Good Friday has a duality to it. On one level, it commemorates the tragedy that Christ, who lived the holy life that we could not live, suffered the judgment that we justly deserved. He was condemned in a sham trial with a rigged jury, unjust judge and false witnesses. It was a travesty of justice. On another level, Good Friday also reminds us of the immense glory and magnificence of God, making the term "good" seem inadequate. The Son of God giving himself as a sacrifice for the sins of those who put their trust in him in the perfect juxtaposition of justice, mercy and grace. The wrath and justice of God satisfied by blood shed by God in the flesh, mercy poured out to those who embrace him as Savior as a cosmic pardon is issued, and grace abounds to those who are now adopted into the family of God.

Two millennia years ago, Jesus cried "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" as he endured the judgment and separation from God that we justly deserved, before declaring "It is finished!" as he breathed his last, confirming that he had paid in full our debt of sin. This, which we remember on Good Friday, is the heart of the gospel of Good News. Especially in the lens of the Resurrection three days later, it could be described as triumphant, victorious, and glorious - but the word "good" hardly seems sufficient, does it?