‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ Matthew 27:46

Tear-wiping God,

Many people have asked through the years, 

“How can we call it ‘Good Friday’ 

when it’s the day our Savior died?” 

In the same way, grieving friends may ask 

if there is anything good in these days,

the days of shootings, sickness, war, and death. 

Your answer to why Good Friday is good 

is your answer to all who mourn 

and to all who hate the brutality of sin and death. 

The Good in Good Friday comes from you, 

the through-and-through good Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Yes, Jesus was wrongly convicted in a mock trial.

Yes, Jesus was beaten and bloodied by Roman soldiers.

Yes, Jesus was mocked by many who previously praised him.

Yes, Jesus was subjected to the brutal death of crucifixion.

But God. But through it all, you were in control. 

Through it all, you were carrying out the plan 

that you, the triune God made from the beginning of time. 

It was a good plan. 

It was the only plan that could finally and forever 

restore your people to you. 

And in the moment that Jesus cried from the cross, 

“It is finished,” 

it became a completed plan. 

You had won victory over sin and death, 

and just three short days later, 

the “Son of Righteousness” would rise 

with “healing in [his] wings” (Malachi 4:2).  

Yes, it’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming. 

In the worst of our days on this earth, 

may we never forget the great hope of Good Friday.

In Jesus’ victorious name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 26:57-65; Matthew 27:1-61.