Matthew 27:27-54

Why do we call it good Friday?

Read Matthew 27:27-54

Why do they call it Good Friday?

I can’t find it anywhere in the Bible and I wish I could because then it would be the definitive argument against anyone who claims that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday or Thursday.

It was Friday, by the way. But if you want to believe that it was Thursday or Wednesday, go ahead, it does nothing to affect my theology or what I believe occurred there.

But that still does nothing to answer the question, “why good Friday?”

If it was so good, then why does Paul say
7 …we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery… 8which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor 2:7-8).

What stands out is that the ‘Good Friday’ is a name that was given to this event some time after the closing of the cannon of scripture and it was most likely given that name by the church- Christians!

But if it was so good, why does Paul say that if the rulers of this age (i.e. the Pharisees and the Roman authorities) had known who Jesus was they would not have crucified him because that would have been a bad thing to do.

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus death saves believers from judgment by appeasing the wrath of God against sinners and that he did it at the cross. Romans 5:8 says,
…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Galatians 1:4 says Jesus, “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age.” And John writes, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 Jn 4:10).

So it was Bad Friday for the rulers of the age who crucified Jesus because they did not know who Jesus was and by Crucifying Him they sealed their own fate by rejecting the only means of salvation available to them because they reject their messiah. But it was Good Friday for the church because when the rulers of this age rejected the messiah they willingly became the means for salvation being made available to all humanity- that’s good!

But don’t think that the crucifixion was a man made event. Don’t think God rolled the dice and then made the best out of what ever occurred. Don’t think that anything other than Good Friday was a possibility for that Preparation day before Passover in AD 30. It was not the rulers of this age who made it happen- God made it happen!

• John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

• John 10:15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

9 …they made His grave with the wicked—
…Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
[so] He has put Him to grief.
…His soul an offering for sin (Is 53:9-10).

And that’s good!

In fact, to call it Good Friday is an understatement. It should be good stupendous fantastic wonderful amazing halleluiah astounding incredible magnificent astonishing illustrious best Friday.


But if you reject the cross and choose another path than this is bad Friday for you too!

To God be the glory, great things He hath done;
So loved He the world that he gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

2 O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To ev’ry believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

3 Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Chorus Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.