Written by Joy Forrest, Founder of Called to Peace Ministries
Why do we call it Good Friday when such a horrible thing happened that day?
As far as anyone could tell, a controversial Jewish rabbi and leader had been executed. His disciples scattered and abandoned Him. Even worse, one of them betrayed Him, setting Him up to be killed. He was falsely accused, spit on, severely beaten, and nailed to a cross like a common criminal. It seemed as though His life would be a mere bleep on history’s timeline. Many had hoped He would be the One to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Romans, but now that hope was shattered. In no way was this a good day. It was a day of lost hope.
A day when oppression won—traumatic beyond belief. His followers were overwhelmed with fear, scared to death that they would be executed, too. It seemed that everything they had committed their lives to had been a waste.
Yet, just before He died, their rabbi cried out, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.” He entrusted Himself to the One who sent Him and breathed His last. We all know the rest of the story: on the third day, after His body was laid in the tomb, the stone was rolled away, and He was risen from the dead! Ultimately, it is the most incredible story of hope ever told. But on that Friday and Saturday, His friends had lost all hope.
Do you know the feeling? Have you ever experienced such significant loss that you felt hopeless? I sure have. That is why I am so grateful for this day we call Good Friday. The Lord of the universe came to earth, entered our trauma, and overcame the world. Yes, He did it to save us from our sins, but it doesn’t stop there.
Jesus came to redeem every aspect of our lives. As we commit our lives to Him—even as He committed Himself to the Father—He promises to redeem our souls from the worst of our suffering here on earth. I don’t fully understand it, but in nearly 3 decades of working with abuse survivors, I have seen this redemption many times over.
How I wish sin and evil didn’t exist, but God has given us the freedom to choose or reject His ways. Still, He hasn’t abandoned us to destruction. He is a Redeemer. His death on Good Friday brought our ultimate redemption, but beyond that, it should also restore our hope. That’s what His redemption does. It lets us know that nothing and no one is beyond His redeeming power. This is the hope of Easter.
I have suffered many losses throughout my life, some of which caused me to want to die. Yet, somehow, in the pain, I knew He was my only hope. As I reached out and chose to commit myself to Him, things slowly turned around, and most times, that didn’t mean my circumstances changed immediately. Usually, it meant He showed up in my pain and gave me an extra measure of grace to stand. It meant He blessed me with His presence and gave me peace that surpassed human comprehension.
Somehow, every single time, He managed to use my suffering for good—to bless others, to draw me closer to Himself, to burn away selfish characteristics, and to teach me to live beyond this broken world. I’ve seen the beauty of this sort of redemption thousands of times over in my work. Some of the most amazing and inspiring people I know have experienced oppression, torture, and the death of hope. Yet, as they have turned to Him and committed their lives to Him, He has shown up! He has turned ashes into beauty, and I’m so grateful to bear witness to these miracles.
Dear friend, if you are feeling hopeless and defeated, I pray you will turn and look to the One who came and entered into your suffering, that you will commit yourself to Him, and that He will meet you with the redemption only He can offer. He has overcome the world, and this is not the end of your story. Even as the disciples experienced great joy after 2 days of anguish, I pray you will find joy and hope during this resurrection season.
“He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me, for there are many who are aggressive toward me.” Psalms 55:18
“Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18
