Good Friday is the day that Christians observe the passion of Jesus Christ. “Passion” is derived from the Latin passio, which means “suffering.” Why is it called “Good Friday”? In the older English, “good” could also mean “holy,” thus a better name for modern people might be “Holy Friday.”

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

–1 Peter 3:18 NIV

Why do we call Good Friday good? On Good Friday we relive the crucifixion of our Lord and Savior. He was betrayed, mocked, and physically beaten. A day of suffering turned into death. Jesus even asked His Father to take this cup of suffering away, but only if it was His Father’s will.

Jesus willingly suffered the ultimate sacrifice. He had all the power and authority to come down off the Cross. Instead, He took our place and died for our sins. He conquered death so that we would know unmistakably that our hope is in Him. In our limited human thinking, it seems like more of a Black Friday than a Good Friday.

As Christians, the day culminates God’s plan—a risen Christ who was our substitute. It is a day about the good news of deliverance; and as dark as it appeared to be, the good that evolved from it is everlasting. The Cross represents great suffering, but also God’s forgiveness, righteousness, and peace. As 1 Peter 3:18 tells us, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. ”Good Friday can only be “Good.”

Praise be to God for sending His Son to take our place.

There is nothing we can do on our own to earn forgiveness—salvation is a free gift, whether we deserve it or not. Amen