Why do we call the day that Jesus was crucified as Good Friday? An innocent man was put to death, what so good about that Friday?
These few months, the world has witnessed the death of so many and countless more have to suffer. The world has also seen the atrocity of war and its aftermath. The last century was the most violent in the history of the world, and many are still alive to recall the horror. There is nothing good in what men have done to each other.
The suffering and death of Jesus, too, was cruel because what He went through was unfitting. How could a person who lived a life without sin deserve to die the death reserved for a criminal? And yet, we call Jesus’ death on the Cross Good Friday.
Many evil deeds were done that Friday against Jesus. That Friday was meant to be bad.
Judas’ betrayal of Jesus was meant for evil. He was not the first to plot against Jesus. He delivered Jesus over to death but Judas did not act alone.
The Jewish leaders’ action on that Friday before the celebration of the Passover was meant for evil. Just like Judas, they delivered Jesus over to Pilate.
Pilate had no quarrel with Jesus. Yet, his siding with the Jewish leaders meant that he did evil to a man whom he could not find fault. Pilate did attempt to free Jesus when he tried to bargain with the Jewish leaders. Ultimately, he delivered Jesus back to the Jewish leaders allowing them to choose whom they want to release.
The people, too, meant that Friday to be evil when they called for Barabbas, a notorious criminal to be set free. The people received a criminal but sent a perfectly righteous man to death. They chose evil.
Despite all the evil of men, God meant the sacrifice of Jesus to be good. That was what Joseph, the Prince of Egypt, told his brothers many years before.
“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” Genesis 50:20.
God knew the hearts of men. Yet, their actions will never derail God’s plan. At the Garden of Eden, God had already spoken about His plan for redemption. The sacrifice of Jesus was not a reaction to the evil of men on that Friday. God ordained that Friday that many, such as us, should be kept alive through the suffering and death of Himself.
Peter says in Acts, “ this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” Acts 2:23
Peter is saying that men are always responsible for their actions but God, always turns it for His glory.
God did His most excellent work on Good Friday. On Good Friday, we see the work of evil men and a good God. What Satan and sinful men meant for evil, God meant it for good. That is why it is called Good Friday.