The darkest day in history is also the day when the light of God’s grace shone the brightest. Never was there, or will there be, a more tragic event than the crucifixion of the Son of God. God came to us in Jesus Christ to reconcile himself to us in love. But we, humanity, rejected him and even subjected him to the cruellest tortures. Never has there been a day when the evil of humanity was on such blatant display. And yet, through this, God’s love was also on display. Where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20). Yes, as Paul says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This is why the worst day in history is called ‘Good Friday.’ The ‘goodness’ here is the goodness of God poured out in response to the evil and depravity of humankind. It is Good Friday, because, in the unfathomable wisdom of God, the terrible events of that original Good Friday became the payment for our guilt and the means of our salvation. So, since that time this day has been a time of both sorrow and joy. We are invited on Good Friday to remember two things: Firstly what God did to save us from guilt, alienation and condemnation. And, secondly, how little we deserved this. On this day remember, as Paul says, that “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Ask God’s forgiveness for your sin and celebrate his forgiveness today.
Read Ephesians 2:1-10.
