WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I wondered why they called it Good Friday. What is good about crucifying an unguilty man who did nothing but good all his life? And even more – who is ultimately responsible? Who did it? A number of answers have been suggested:
1.THE JEWISH LEADERS. Jesus was a Jew, and his ministry had been mainly among Jews. He was very popular among the common people. But he was disliked by their religious leaders. They had often been the target of his harshest rebukes as he addressed their hypocrisy. So they decided to shoot the messenger rather than deal with the message, and they plotted to kill Him.
2.JUDAS ISCARIOT. He offered to help the conspirators with money. He belonged to Jesus’ band of disciples, but for whatever reason he worked for the enemy. A kiss – the sign of affectionate friendship was the signal he used to identify Jesus to his captors in the darkness of Gethsemane.
3.PONTIUS PILATE, the Roman governor. The Jewish leaders had already condemned Jesus after a sham trial before the High Priest and elders. But they lacked the authority to execute anyone – only the Roman governor could do that. After publicly declaring Jesus innocent of any crime, he sentenced him to death by crucifixion – a death so horrible that Romans never subjected their citizens to it – only foreigners and slaves were executed that way.
4.THE ROMAN SOLDIERS WHO NAILED JESUS TO THE CROSS. Were they simply “following orders” , or did they share in the guilt of killing the Son of God? Perhaps an answer can be found in Jesus’ prayer, Father, forgive them. For they do not know what they do. (Luke 23:4)
Surely a case can be made for the guilt of all of the above. But when it comes down to it, you and I did it. It was our sin, and the sin of humanity that brought Jesus to the cross, and the love and obedience of Christ that kept Him there until “IT IS FINISHED” The Bible says, God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)
And that’s not all. According to Hebrews 6:6 Jesus is still being crucified today: To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace (NIV) .
Good Friday was not good in the sense that humanity, especially religious humanity showed itself from its worst side that day. But it was A GOOD DAY because it made available the GOOD NEWS Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Acts 2:21 NIV)
