Good ? Friday

There is nothing good about today, if you judge it by the normal standards of goodness.  The cross was the most feared deterrent of Roman Law.  While today many would be nervous and even afraid of some days or months spent in a jail or prison, people in Jerusalem were terrified of the cross and the torture leading to the cross.

The label “Black Monday” reminds us of the crash of the stock market and of a time of economic collapse.  People didn’t know what they were going to do or how they were going to survive. The people who were followers of Jesus found themselves in that same situation as he was arrested and tortured.  How would they survive, what were they going to do? Things happen in our lives leaving us feeling the exact same way.  We find ourselves asking questions like, will this pain ever end?  Maybe that is how you feel today.  

I always struggle with this day being called good.  On the surface it seems to me that this day should be referred to as “Black Friday”, because I can’t imagine anything any darker. The only way we can understand it as good is to understand Jesus’ mission to earth was for our good.  Suddenly, it's GREAT FRIDAY!!!