For centuries, Christians have referred to the day in which Christ died as “Good Friday.” And so, it’s only natural that we ask the question: “What’s so good about Jesus hanging on a cross, shedding His blood, and dying? In other words, “What’s so Good about Good Friday? I’d like to offer seven reasons:

1) GOOD FRIDAY FULFILLED AN OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY

Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our ^]well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him (Isaiah 53:4-6).

Isaiah’s prophecy given hundreds of years before Jesus came to earth is a clear indication that His death for our sins was always on the mind of God. Jesus came to fulfill all that the prophets foretold.

2) GOOD FRIDAY DEMONSTRATED GOD’S LOVE FOR US

But God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

God was never about just saying things to the Old Testament writers of Scripture; He always demonstrated His character, and in this case, it was His love for all of us.

3) GOOD FRIDAY MAKES US RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD

Having been justified by His blood, we are saved from the wrath of God through Him (Romans 5:9).

“Justification” is a legal term that means “to be brought into a right standing before God.” When God “justifies” us, He makes a legal declaration that we are now “right with God.”

4) GOOD FRIDAY BRINGS US INTO A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

For if while we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:10).

While “justification” is a legal term, “reconciliation” is a relational term. When Jesus died on the cross, He allowed us to be “reconciled” to God, that is, He opened the door for us to be brought into a personal relationship with God.

5) GOOD FRIDAY REDEEMS US FROM THE PENALTY AND POWER OF SIN

For in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7)

Here is another wonderful New Testament term, “redemption.” In first century culture, enslaved people were bought and sold on a regular basis, but if someone came and paid the price for their freedom, it is said that that person was redeemed. And that’s what Jesus does, He set’s us free (He redeems us) from the penalty and power of sin.

6) GOOD FRIDAY CLEANSES US FROM ALL SIN

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

While “forgiveness” is a legal term in which God declares us “forgiven,” “cleansing” in a personal term in which God washes away our sins. In the Old Testament sacrifices, the worshiper only had his/her sins “covered,” but because of Jesus’ death on the cross, our sins are actually “removed” and our hearts are “cleansed” with the blood of Christ.

7) GOOD FRIDAY OPENS THE DOOR TO ETERNAL LIFE

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The forgiveness and cleansing from sin opens the door for us to have eternal life. Jesus came to give us His life, and that life is both “abundant” and “eternal.” Because of Good Friday, we can live for eternity with Christ.

I hope that this short survey has been helpful for all of you. But tomorrow, we need to turn our attention away from the cross and to the empty tomb. What if Jesus had never risen from the dead? Well, it would have nullified all of the reasons for Christ’s death on the cross. We simply cannot have a “dead” Savior. Furthermore, how could a “dead” Savior ever impart LIFE to you and me? He couldn’t. So, let’s celebrate the fact that He is alive today, imparting His LIFE to all who ask Him. If you haven’t yet done so, this would be a wonderful time to ask Him to forgive your sins and give you new life. He will do it, if you just ask!