“In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him’” (Matthew 27:41,42).

Ironically, the religious leaders kind of had a point. Jesus came not to save himself but to save us humans! Jesus came not for his benefit but for our benefit. Jesus stayed on that cross not because it was helpful for him but because it was VITAL for us! 

So we are filled with awe on this day. Imagine! God loves you and me so much that he’s willing to go to the cross for us! God loves us so much that he’s willing to lay down his life for us! And the devil can try to lead you and me to doubt, to wonder if God really loves us, but the cross drives those doubts away. Look! Jesus is up there! He’s up there for you! He’s up there because he loves you! 

And, oh yeah, let’s be clear; if he had wanted to come down, he had the ability to do so. And that makes it all the more beautiful. He did all this—went through all this suffering—willingly. That’s how much he loves you; that’s how much he loves me. 

No wonder we call this Friday, “Good.”