Do you know why Good Friday is called “good”? It is a day that calls Christians everywhere to pause. It brings us face-to-face with Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice and the choices made by those around Him, such as the disciples’ inability to stay awake and the crowd’s demand for Barabbas’ release. But through these events, we are invited to see Jesus’ love and learn how it shapes our lives today.
Despite the sorrow of the crucifixion, Good Friday is seen as a critical step leading to the joyous resurrection celebrated on Easter Sunday, which led to humanity’s redemption. The “good” refers to the ultimate good that came from Christ’s suffering and death, offering salvation to believers and paving the way for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
The Arrest in Gethsemane
The first significant event occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane during the overnight hours of Good Friday. At the foot of the Mount of Olives, Jesus went to pray while His disciples fell asleep.
Here, amidst intense emotional turmoil, Jesus wrestles with the weight of what is to come; He knows He is about to face betrayal, suffering, and death.
In His prayer, we sense His deep trust in God’s plan, even as He expresses His anguish:
Father, if it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want your will to be done, not Mine” – Matthew 26:39.
The arrival of Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, to betray Him with a kiss marks a chilling turning point. The pain of betrayal and the dread of impending suffering sets the tone for the day’s events.
The soldiers arrest Jesus, and in that moment, the disciples scatter in fear, leaving Jesus to face His fate alone.
Jesus Before the Jewish Leaders
After His arrest, Jesus is taken to the high priest, Caiaphas, where He is questioned and scorned. The Jewish leaders seek evidence to put Him to death, yet they struggle to find anything substantial.
In these moments, we observe the power dynamics at play. Jesus remains silent through most of the questioning, choosing not to defend Himself with grand gestures or eloquent arguments.
Instead, He acknowledges His identity as “the Messiah, the Son of God” (Matthew 26:63-65).
The Jewish leaders ultimately condemn Him to death, but they lack the authority to carry out the sentence, which leads to the next phase of the story.
Jesus Before Pilate
Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, becomes the next witness to the unfolding drama. The Jewish leaders bring Jesus before Pilate, accusing Him of claiming to be the “King of the Jews.”
The pressure intensifies as the religious leaders and the gathered crowd demand action. Pilate hesitates between his responsibility as a leader and his understanding that Jesus has done nothing deserving of death.
In a final effort to appease the crowd, Pilate offers them a choice: they can release either Jesus or Barabbas, a notorious criminal. The crowds, fueled by the religious leaders’ influence, choose Barabbas.
This decision reveals the complexities and flaws within the human condition. By choosing a known criminal over the innocent Messiah, the crowd’s vote highlights the susceptibility to manipulation over truth.
It also serves as a powerful reminder of the grace and forgiveness offered by Jesus, who accepted this injustice to fulfill a greater purpose for humanity’s redemption.
Ridicule and Crucifixion
After accepting the crowd’s choice, Pilate hands Jesus over to be whipped and ridiculed. The soldiers place a crown of thorns on His head and taunt Him as the King of the Jews.
These mockeries may seem like simple acts of cruelty, but they symbolize a deeper truth about how easily humanity can overlook truth in favor of popular opinion.
The path to the cross is marked with immense suffering. Jesus carries His cross, enduring physical pain, and emotional torment, having already been rejected by those He came to save.
Finally, He is crucified at Golgotha, where two criminals hang beside Him. And yet, even in His death, we see His love manifested through His words: “Father, forgive them, for they do not even know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
The sky darkens, reflecting the gravity of this moment. Creation seems to mourn as the Son of God faces death. In His final moments, He cries out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30), emphasizing the work of redemption is complete. This reassures us of the hope and the promise of a renewed life that His sacrifice brings.
The Burial and Its Significance
After Jesus’ death, His body was removed from the cross and placed in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea. The sealing of the tomb signifies a poignant end to Jesus’ earthly ministry. However, for believers, this is not an end; it’s a transition towards resurrection and renewed hope.
As we reflect on the events of Good Friday, we must understand how they are foundational to our faith. The pain and suffering that Jesus endured speak to His love for humanity—the sacrifice that offers us grace and forgiveness.
Through His death, He removes the barrier of sin that separates us from God, enabling a relationship that allows for hope and healing.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The story of Good Friday is not just about looking back—it’s about how we live our faith today. While this day is overloaded with emotion, it teaches us vital lessons about love, sacrifice, and redemption.
Jesus’ willingness to suffer for others challenges us to love selflessly in our own lives.
- Are we willing to serve others, even when it is hard?
- Are we willing to forgive, even when it feels undeserved?
- Are we willing to trust God, even when we cannot see the whole picture?
In a world of choices, like the crowd faced with Barabbas and Jesus, we are called to choose Jesus daily.
May we honor Jesus’ incredible love by living as reflections of that love in our churches with open hearts, minds, and doors.
May we embrace Jesus’ teachings and example to carry His love into our communities and world.
Lord, I come before You with gratitude and awe for Jesus’ sacrifice on this Good Friday. Help me always choose truth and love over fear and distraction, just as You call us to do through His example. May I live daily in the light of His grace, bearing witness to the redemption and hope His suffering brought us all. Amen.
Dr. Tony Caldwell is pastor of the Hinesville First United Methodist Church. His teaching website can be found at Refinery Radio