Have you ever wondered why we refer to the Friday before Easter Sunday as “Good Friday?” Why is it not called “Dark Friday”? Without knowing the resurrection was to come after the crucifixion and death of Christ, the disciples and family of Jesus feared that darkness had truly fallen on all their hopes. It is possible that “Good Friday” is a contraction of “God’s Friday,” just as “goodbye” is a contraction of “God be with ye.” Perhaps the name Good Friday isn’t because the actual day was good, but rather it was the day in which we could see the goodness of God.
In Romans 5:8 we read, “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Despite our sin and the reality that we have rebelled against God throughout our entire history, Christ was still willing to suffer for us. He gave his life so that we might join him in eternity. Whenever we doubt God’s love for us, we can look to the cross and remember how strong God’s love truly is.
These days, with millions of refugees seeking a home and the horrific war in Ukraine, it is not difficult to recognize that we live in a sinful world. It would be very challenging to believe in a good God if He spent all His time in eternal bliss while we suffered down here on Earth. But because Jesus came to Earth, he experienced the trials and tribulations of our earthly life. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” God knows the challenges we face, and God walks beside us to help us get through those challenges.
This year, as you consider Good Friday, I hope you take some time to remember the goodness of God. While no other day is filled with more sorrow, no other day has demonstrated so much goodness and love to the world.
Good Friday Services at BMPC:
12:00 p.m. Youth-led service in the Chapel
7:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir, soprano Elizabeth Weigle, actor John T.K. Scherch, and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia lead a service in the Sanctuary that includes the Philadelphia premiere of Allan Bevan’s magnificent meditation on the crucifixion of Christ, “Nou Goth Sonne Under Wode.”
Both services are in-person only; no livestream.
