They call this "Good Friday" because it is the day we remember our Lord's death. It's a day to reflect on the agony of the cross in anticipation of Resurrection Sunday. I've heard some say, "Why focus on the cross? He's not there anymore. He's Risen!" Yes, He is. But it's only as we get deeply in touch with the sorrow of Friday that the joy of Sunday comes home to us.
It's sort of like the bad news/good news scenario. I always ask for the bad news first. Because the good news will sound even better when you know the "badness" of a situation. The deeper the sorrow, the greater the joy.
That's why we love great "comebacks." A score of 35-17 is a good win in football. We might call it a massacre, getting smashed, a thrashing. But suppose the team with 35 points came back from 17-0 to win? And suppose it was your team, the underdog? It's even better. It makes the victory that much sweeter. Because we know what they came back from.
That's the nature of Good Friday. Yes, Sunday is great. Yes, Jesus is Lord. But think about the darkness of Friday before the Resurrection. Remember how bleak things looked. Feel the agony of His followers, the despair of a grieving Mom mopping her son's cold brow. Then when you get to Sunday, it makes it all the more great. Because we know what He "came back" from.
For this reason, I say, 'Thank God it's Good Friday."
