What’s so good about Good Friday?

I am often asked, especially at this time of the year, why is Good Friday called good? Seems a contradiction in terms. It is called good for a couple of reasons. The first is that because of our Lord’s death on a cross, we have Easter. In other words, no death, no resurrection. Christ’s sacrificial self offering makes our redemption possible. God loves us more than life itself.
Secondly, and not so well understood, is the Latin phrase, “O felix culpa”, ‘O Happy Fault’. In a great paradox, our sins which lead us to death, also commend us to God. Our transgressions are not liabilities that lead us away from God, but to Him. Out of great love God has made possible life from death. Instead of believing that our sins prevent us from being in relationship to God, the opposite is true. When we acknowledge them and seek forgiveness by turning to Jesus, we discover that we are welcomed by God, a friend of sinners. This is the miracle of God’s grace. Sin not only forgiven, but remembered no more and restored to full relationship with God. Good Friday is good, God would have it no other way. May you find blessings at this time of year. Rev. Huntley

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