Dear All,

Why do we call Good Friday good? It certainly wasn’t good for Jesus. In fact, he sweated blood the day before it, in anticipation of it. But that was nothing in comparison with the horrors of the day itself.

This is how it unfolded:

After midnight, on Friday morning he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was betrayed by his friend Judas. The rest of the disciples ran away.

Between 4am and 6am he was bound and taken to Annas and Caiaphas the High Priests. Peter followed close behind but denied that he ever knew Jesus when questioned.

Between 6am and 8am he was tried by Pontius Pilate. He was mocked and scourged, and a crown of thorns was placed on his head. Barabbas the robber was released instead of him.

At 9am he was crucified. The nails driven into his hands and feet made any movement excruciating. The charge over him read ‘The King of the Jews.’

Between 9am and 12 noon the soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ clothing while the passers by and religious leaders mocked him. He was also mocked by the criminals being crucified alongside him.

At 3pm Jesus gave a last cry and died. A lance pierced his side to prove he was dead. The crowds left the scene beating their breasts at the misery of it all. The day was a victory for all who hated Jesus.

If the story had ended there that day can only have been called Bad Friday. However, there was a sequel that no one expected which changed everything.

That sequel was Easter. Because of Easter the bad things that happened on that day took on a new light. They could be seen as the lengths that God would go to for love. That was how that Friday became Good.

Easter shows us the limits of betrayal, mocking, violence and death. They cannot exceed the extent of the love of God. They did their worst on Good Friday and could not prevail.

The Resurrection of Jesus defeated them all. That means that there is nothing to fear on the days when Good Friday comes to us. The presence of Jesus will be with us. The light of the Resurrection will cast away our darkness.

Lord, bring us through the darkness to the light of your Resurrection. 

Your friend and vicar, David.