As a kid I never understood why Good Friday is called good. Did you ever wonder about that? I could see Good Friday called black Friday, or sad Friday, or even sacrifice Friday, but Good Friday?
My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me (Matt. 27:46)? That is the question on that Friday so long ago. It could also be how you and I feel when the storms of our life come rolling through.
Have you ever felt alone? I mean really alone? That is a question I am pondering this Good Friday. Yes, I have felt alone, even in a crowded room full of people.
Some of you know what I mean... Have you ever had the loss of a parent to death, divorce, or abandonment as a child and wondered, "how are we going to LIVE without mommy or daddy providing for us and loving us." What a helpless feeling...
What about a spouse who loses his or her lifelong partner. That, "one flesh" thing is not a joke! it is REAL. A person morns their lost loved one emotionally, physically, and spiritually when they are separated due to a permanent separation. They may say they are okay, but they will never truly be the same again.
How about those who have lost a child to miscarriage, still birth, or due to some tragedy, or illness. Or, maybe the realization a child one has raised through devoted love, sweat, tears, and pouring their very soul into a child's whole life.... Only to find they walked away from everything they have ever taught them or a rejection of the truth of Jesus in their adult life, that their parents longed for them to possess? They now having to live with the knowledge there is no hope for their child without Jesus atonement for their rebellion? There too, is a sense of aloneness and heartache.
How about an illness that others cannot fathom (or see) the pain you endure? The comparison of your pain to their minor headache, is a joke at best. If only they really knew the pain your endure. The pain that causes you to sweat and causes your face to have a constant frown because you do not have anymore energy to bring a fake smile to your face. The smile you force only to lie and say you are fine, when really you wish the intense pain would be relieved for just one second. One second of relief is all you are asking for... but never receive it. Yes, some of you know exactly what I am talking about.
ALONE... Is the perfect word, "No one understands" is what you are thinking. At least that's how you and I feel. No one (not even the people who try) can comfort you in these dark and lonely places. You feel alone, yet the whole world surrounds you.
Even still, no matter the pain or suffering we have endured through these trials, compares to the depth of grief, pain, and aloneness that Jesus felt being separated from the Father on that dark day of Good Friday, over 2000 years ago. NOTHING.... Think about that for a minute. There is absolutely no comparison that would come close, except for maybe a glimpse (at best) of the pain we have endured in this incomplete list of trials I've mentioned above.
Imagine the perfect parent, the perfect spouse, the perfect child, the perfect life, no death, no pain, no sin, no tears, the perfect oneness with your loved ones. If only that could be the way it could be... right?
Well, that was exactly what Jesus had with the Father (John 1:14, Phil 2). In fact, they are so close they are one person! Yep, oneness - perfection in relation to one another (John 10:30).
This concept of God's oneness is hard for us to grasp because we have never truly known it to the extent that God has. The total unity of God. But that is exactly how the Godhead is. He is one God in three persons (Deut. 6:4, Genesis 1:1, 26, 3:22, Isaiah 6:8, Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19, 2 Cor. 13:14, are just a few of the references we can point to). The Father, the Son, and the Spirit are indeed one. Marriage can describe it very well, but so can a mother and child's symbiotic relationship during pregnancy. However, marriage and oneness of mother and child can illustrate this concept, but only scratch the surface of the reality of the unity and the harmony of Trinity. Analogies can only give a glimpse of the closeness of the Trinitarian God.
The Bible tells us Jesus left the perfect life-scenario - the heavenly realm. The ultimate utopia. He left it because of love... because we were ALONE, seperated from God's eternal love. Destitute and without hope because of sin - inherited and willful sin. Like the parent listed above who loves their child and only wants what's best for him or her, God so loved us by sending Jesus to the world. His one and only Son. His beloved... Moreover, on Good Friday they completely were separated while Jesus took upon Himself the pain and the anguish of the whole world's sin... The just wrath from a Holy God. God the Father being Holy, imputed the world's sin onto His Holy Son, causing Him to receive the wrath against the unholiness of humanity. Think about that for a minute and let it sink in...
Past, present, and future generations and all of the sin humanity has ever thought, said, did, or will do, came pouring down on Jesus. Even the wrath for the most vile of sin was upon His shoulders. He bore it all. The pain from that weight itself must have been unbearable (Matt. 26:36-56).Never has anyone known such pain, anguish, or aloneness, than Jesus did that Good Friday (the weight of sin coupled with the crucifixion). Nor, will anyone else have to suffer such aloneness (separation from God), if they trust Jesus' sacrifice in their stead (Act 2:21, Romans 10:13,Matt. 28:20).
I have come to understand as an adult, what I did not understand as a child. The good in Good Friday is just that, GOOD. In fact, it should be (in my estimation) called great Friday or awesome Friday! God, the only one who is good - holy (Luke 18:19) has imputed to those who accept this payment of Jesus' atonement for their sins, to be one with the Godhead... Yes, it's hard to believe. Jesus even prayed to that end (John 17).
Why would the perfect union of the Godhead want a messed up individual like myself or any one for that matter, to be in their shared perfect unity? The answer can only be love... The love for the absent parent, spouse, child or loved one, is just a glimpse into the love God has for us. That is amazing my friends - utterly amazing. This is truly how God feels about us. In fact, He rose again from death so that you and I could be victorious over death, over pain and over suffering and to live an abundant life and live eternal life together with Him. Sound like a fairy tail? It is, but this one is true! That's the good in Good Friday! Thank you Jesus. We never need to feel alone again. Sunday is coming... up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph over His foes. God is so GOOD!
Happy Good Friday,
Darla J. Smith
