The Power and Peace of Good Friday
Heather Suzanne Wolf-National Desk Editor
On a Friday morning in ancient Jerusalem, while the city stirred with Passover preparations, a different drama unfolded—a story of sorrow, sacrifice, and ultimate love. Jesus of Nazareth, bruised and bloodied, stood trial not for crimes He committed, but for the sins of humanity. Betrayed by a friend, condemned by corrupt leaders, and rejected by the very people He came to save, Jesus was led to His death. And yet, Christians around the world call this day Good Friday. Why?
Because in the midst of agony and apparent defeat, something eternally good was taking place. Jesus wasn’t merely a victim of injustice; He was the willing sacrifice, the Lamb of God offering Himself to heal our broken world.
If anyone understands the depths of pain, it’s Jesus. He entered fully into the suffering of humanity—not from a distance, but through personal experience. Mocked, beaten, humiliated, and ultimately nailed to a cross, Jesus bore the worst this world could offer. But His death was not meaningless. As He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30), He declared that the price for sin had been paid in full.
These words, spoken by priests after offering the sacrificial lamb on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), took on deeper meaning that day. Jesus, both our Great High Priest and the spotless Lamb, offered the final, perfect sacrifice. Through His suffering, He absorbed the punishment meant for us and broke the power of sin and death once and for all.
The Hebrew word for “finished” shares a root with shalom—peace, wholeness, restoration. This is no coincidence. As Isaiah 53:5 foretells, “He was pierced for our transgressions … the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” In dying, Jesus gave us access to the deepest form of peace—peace with God.
So what makes Good Friday good? It is the goodness of a God who would not abandon us to our pain and sin, but instead stepped into our suffering to redeem it. It’s the beauty of a Savior who turned a brutal cross into a bridge of mercy. And though Sunday’s resurrection brings victory and celebration, Friday reminds us of the cost.
Before we rush to Easter’s empty tomb, let us pause. Let us feel the weight of the sacrifice—the injustice, the sorrow, the divine love on display. Let us look at the cross and see not just death, but the doorway to life. Jesus bore our burdens, felt our griefs, and conquered our sin out of love for us.
And now, because of Him, healing is possible. Restoration is promised. Peace is offered.
On this Good Friday, may we reflect not only on the pain but also on the profound love that held Jesus on the cross. Let us bring Him our brokenness, knowing He understands it fully—and promises one day to make all things new.
That is why this Friday is, truly, good.
