Good Friday. What's so Good About It?

Luke 23:44-46 (NKJV)

44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

Every year, Christians around the world pause on Good Friday to remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ—a day marked by solemnity, reverence, and deep reflection. While the name “Good Friday” may seem paradoxical, considering the immense suffering Jesus endured, it is indeed "good" because of the redemption and hope that His sacrifice offers to humanity.

The Bible provides a powerful and faithful rendering of the events of Good Friday. Through its timeless language, we are invited to meditate on the depth of Christ’s love, the weight of sin, and the power of the cross.

The events of Good Friday are recorded in all four Gospels, but Luke 23 provides a particularly vivid account. After enduring false accusations, mock trials, beatings, and humiliation, Jesus was led to Golgotha to be crucified. Luke 23:33 (NKJV) reads:

“And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.”

Jesus, the sinless Son of God, was crucified between two criminals. This act fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy that He would be "numbered with the transgressors" (Isaiah 53:12, NKJV). It is a powerful reminder that Jesus bore our sin and shame, identifying with the lowest and most broken parts of humanity.

Even in His agony, Jesus spoke words of grace, compassion, and fulfillment. The NKJV captures these sayings with deep clarity and meaning. Among His final words are:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34, NKJV)

This profound expression of forgiveness reveals the heart of the gospel. While being mocked and crucified, Jesus prayed for those responsible, extending mercy in the midst of unimaginable pain.

To the repentant thief crucified beside Him, Jesus said:

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43, NKJV)

This moment of grace assures us that salvation is available to anyone who turns to Jesus—even at the final hour. It’s not about what we’ve done, but about who He is. One of the most striking events of Good Friday happened at the moment Jesus died. Luke 23:44–46 (NKJV) records:

“Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.”

The tearing of the veil in the temple signified that the barrier between God and humanity had been removed. No longer was access to God limited to the high priest entering the Holy of Holies once a year. Through Christ’s death, all believers now have direct access to the Father.

As Hebrews 10:19–20 (NKJV) explains:

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.”

Good Friday calls us to remember the cost of our salvation. It wasn't purchased with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18–19, NKJV). The cross is both a symbol of suffering and of victory—a place where justice and mercy met, where love conquered sin.

Romans 5:8 (NKJV) declares: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

This verse encapsulates the heart of Good Friday. Jesus did not die for the righteous, but for sinners—for you and for me. His death was the ultimate expression of love.

As we reflect on Good Friday, the question is not just what happened, but how will we respond? Will we turn to Christ like the thief on the cross, acknowledging our sin and trusting in His mercy? Will we, like the centurion in Luke 23:47, declare, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”?

Good Friday is not the end of the story—it is the beginning of hope. Resurrection Sunday is coming, but we must first sit with the sorrow of the cross to truly appreciate the joy of the empty tomb.

The message of Good Friday, as preserved in the NKJV, reminds us that God’s love is not abstract—it is embodied in the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice made a way for us to be reconciled with God, offering forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life. Let us not rush past the cross. Let us stand in awe of what our Savior endured. And let us live in response to His love, taking up our own cross daily and following Him (Luke 9:23, NKJV).

This Good Friday, may we remember not only the pain Jesus bore but the purpose behind it—the redemption of a lost world, and the triumph of grace over sin.

Blessings and Love in Christ,

Pastor Tom