4-15-19<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nThe\nweek started great, remember? Jesus enters Jerusalem, hailed by\nthrongs on all sides with praise and Hosannas. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nIn\nrapid succession, it dissolves. Conspiracy, trumped-up charges,\naccusations, kangaroo court trial, arrest, persecution, torture,\nbetrayal, denial, imprisonment, humiliation, death sentence,\ncrucifixion, agonizing death. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nAnd\nthe crowds that sang His praises only days earlier, now cursed and\nspat at Him. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\ncould be worse than that Friday? In world history, what could be\nworse \u2013 from the perspective of confused followers of Jesus, I\nhave tried to picture the excruciating period between the death on\nthe cross and the Resurrection. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nWhere\ndid He go? What did we do? What about His promises? What happens now?\nIs hope gone\u2026?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In\nthe larger sense, for followers and observers alike, many would have\nseen irony in the fact that this day would come to be called Good\nFriday. Remember, the earth shook, the sky turned dark, the veil in\nthe Temple was rent top to bottom. Even a Roman centurion said,\n\u201cSurely this was the Son of God.\u201d The Jewish historian Josephus,\nwho never was to believe, nevertheless recorded the facts of the\ncrucifixion, Resurrection, and Jesus\u2019s subsequent appearances. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nIndeed\npeople still wonder, through it all, why it is called Good Friday. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood\u201d?\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\nare etymological theories that the\nGerman Gottes\nFreitag <\/em>(<\/em>\u201cGod\u2019s\nFriday\u201d) or Gute\nFreitag <\/em>(<\/em>\u201cGood\nFriday\u201d) were the origins; the Ancient English Godes\nFriday<\/em>\n<\/em>(\u201cGod\u2019s\nFriday\u201d) is also cited. In parts of Europe the\nday is called \u201cGreat\u201d or \u201cHoly,\u201d not \u201cGood.\u201d In Denmark\nthe ancient Angle term \u201cLong Friday\u201d still survives. In Greek\nOrthodox practice, the day is called \u201cHoly\nand Great Friday\u201d in the Greek liturgy. In parts of southern\nEurope, \u201cHoly Friday\u201d; in middle Europe Karfreitag\n<\/em>(\u201cSorrowful Friday\u201d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clearly\n\u2013 no mystery \u2013 we understand that in God\u2019s view, in His holy\nplan, the sacrificial death of His only-begotten Son was good for\nHim, and we humans, if we would realize it. We have a means to be\nreconciled by that substitutionary death. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone\nwho has lost a child knows how horrible it was for God to allow \u2013\nno, to plan \u2013 the death of His son. But it was good<\/em>;\nit was good for the rest of His children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And it was long prophesied: What man meant for evil, God meant for good (<\/em>Genesis 50:20). It was the Lord\u2019s will to crush him and cause him to suffer<\/em> (<\/strong>Isaiah 53:10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \nAll\nfor us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\nis good.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \nSpecifically,\nall for you. You, and me, individually. I believe that if had been\npossible that you or I were the only sinners in history, God would\nstill have delivered Jesus to the cross, that the Atonement would be\napplied even to you or me. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is good<\/em>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Can we comprehend such Love? Don\u2019t try; it is overwhelming. Rather than fully understanding, we should wholly respond\u2026 in gratitude, honor, praise, contrition, repentance, humility. In\u2026 faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n