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What's so good about Good Friday? After all, it's the day in the Christian calendar that we memorialize Jesus Christ's brutal execution at the hands of an oppressive empire and social structure. How can that be good?
Good Friday is only good when we understand the spiritual work that was accomplished at this eternally pivotal moment in history. It is the culminating intersection of heaven and earth, where at the Cross of Calvary, on which Jesus was crucified, humanity's karmic debt was paid in the spiritual realm.
Many ancient spiritual systems and religious practices employed the use of blood sacrifices as a means of creating a portal to the spiritual dimension. Many original Mesopotamian and African religions had this concept of the natural world being connected to the spiritual world, with heightened connectivity by way of a blood sacrifice, usually with an animal of some kind. (This can be seen throughout the Old Testament.) It was thought that the shedding of blood could open up a spiritual portal through which humans could access the realm of the Spirit in a more magnified dimension. The purpose behind this was to procure blessing, and drive away the curse.
Well, thank God, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree"-- that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:13-14 RSV).
Everything that was ranged against humanity, Jesus conquered on the cross. The curse (symptoms of which can be seen in the latter part of Deuteronomy 28) was triumphed over through Jesus' willingness to offer Himself as a sacrifice for humanity's sickness, poverty and spiritual death.
"Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5 RSV).
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9 RSV).
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 RSV).
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10 RSV).
This IS the GOOD NEWS, and it speaks for itself:
"And you, who were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, having canceled the bond which stood against us with its legal demands; this he set aside, nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:13-14 RSV).
By nailing it to the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the punishment of the perpetual curse, forever causing it [the curse] to bow to the realm of God [of Good]. Now, there is a triumphant realm of Good that reigns supreme over the realm of bad/evil/destruction/calamity. There is an all-supreme reign of Unlimited Good that is secured for humanity in the spiritual realm, through this finished work of Christ (which was accomplished on the cross at Calvary on Good Friday). Humans may enter this ultimate realm of victory through faith in Christ's finished work.
This is perhaps my favorite verse in this passage:
"He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in him" (Colossians 2:15 RSV).
This is a reason to praise God, even through the bitter devastation of this Friday! The cross represents the finished work of Christ where God redeems humanity, bringing her back into communion with Godself. In order to bridge the divide and restore oneness between humanity and divinity, Jesus willingly offered Himself as a sacrifice.
Good Friday is the day Jesus purchased our redemption and wholeness, thereby impacting every area of life (spirit, soul and body) which is made accessible to all, even by faith.
Thank God for Good Friday!
~Jason Powell
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