Good Friday. Have you ever wondered how the Friday before Easter got the name good? What is good about the crucifixion of God’s own Son? Why not “sad” Friday, or “dark” Friday, or “sorrowful” Friday? Actually, it is called “sorrowful Friday” in some languages and countries, but why is it “good” in our language? I have always wondered the answer to this question, so I made it my goal to put some time into finding out why this of all days is called good. As I researched, I found several different plausible answers to the question of why this day is called good.
Theologically, we call this day good because of the process that began at the cross. Jesus took our sins on Himself so He could give us His own righteousness. In rising from the dead three days later, Jesus secured something for us that only He could secure–triumph over death and eternal life. That is good is it not? But that still does not explain why the day was originally called “Good Friday”. Certainly the end of what Christ began is good, but is that why we utilize the term good?
I found other research that suggests the term good was a transliteration from a Germanic word meaning “God’s” or “holy”, and thus the term actually means “God’s Friday” or “Holy Friday”. But this still did not seem to satisfy my curiosity.
What makes the most sense to me, is the thought that the term “Good Friday” uses an older, perhaps even out of date “old English” usage of the term good–holy. The word good has been used for something virtuous, sacred, or even holy. Much like some people have become accustomed to referring to the Bible as “the good (i.e. holy) book, we use the term “Good Friday” to talk about the holiness and sacredness of this day, because on this day the Son of God suffered on our behalf. It truly is a holy day!
Regardless of the origins behind the term “Good Friday,” (and I admit that my research efforts into this topic were not as diligent as those I learned in seminary), my point is not to focus merely on the roots of this term. I want to focus briefly on the reality that though what Jesus accomplished was good, it was still a very, very dark time. In fact, I doubt Mary the mother of Jesus and His disciples would have recognized what was happening as a good thing. Indeed, in the book of Isaiah, Scripture itself describes for us the level of affliction and grief that Jesus endured on this day. It was a very, very dark time. I think Jesus recognized this. In John 13:30, after it had been revealed that Judas was the one who would betray Jesus, John says that Judas went out and it was night. I wonder if this is more than physical darkness that John had in mind. It was spiritually dark. Satan was working out his plan, and things looked bleak. This idea is picked up in Luke 22:53 as soldiers came to the garden to arrest Jesus, and He said this hour the power of darkness is yours. Darkness was overtaking the light; Satan was working His plan; it was very, very dark!
But only for an hour. Jesus says darkness will have its day, but only for a short while– this hour the power of darkness is yours. The darkness will not last forever; the light will again emerge! Is it any wonder then, why the Latin phrase post tenebras lux (after darkness light) became the rallying cry for the many during the protestant reformation? Yes things were dark, but there would be light after darkness!
As you remember the sacrifice of Christ for our sins on the day we traditionally call “Good Friday”, I hope that you will take time to ponder the reality that not everything on this day was good. Certainly, what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross was very, very good, but the day was also incredibly dark. As you remember what this day is for, take time to focus on the suffering of our Savior. It was real, genuine, and difficult! But He did suffer according to God’s plan, and the light did overtake that darkness, and that is what we will celebrate on Sunday!
