I was raised in church and learned very early in life of the ugliness of the crucifixion. I didn’t understand the term “Good Friday” very well. I mean, I understood that Fridays are good in general because it was the last day of the school week. It’s the first day of the weekend. People thank God that it’s Friday. But to celebrate such a tortured, painful death by terming the day “Good” seemed out of sorts to me. It certainly wasn’t good for the people involved. Jesus begged God to make sure there was no other way. God had to watch His son bear the burden of an entire fallen creation. Mary had to look upon all the torment of her son that she had loved and protected for more than three decades. It was probably harder for Mary than it was for God. God knew the plan, He knew that Jesus would conquer death. He knew the pain was only temporary. Mary could only watch in horror and trust that the God who gave her this son knew what He was doing.

As I got older, however, I began to understand that through the ugliness of the crucifixion, there was beauty. The Son of God, the author of creation chooses to come to Earth and live among us. He chooses to be one of us. He chooses to feel our physical pains and to feel our emotional pains as well. Even though he asked God to find another way to redeem us, He still went to the cross willingly. I do not know why that had to be the way, I only know that it was the way. We are a fallen people. Jesus lifted us back up again. And that, my friends, is definitely Good.

Tune back in Sunday for an Easter follow up.