How can Good Friday ever be called “good”? A day when we remember Jesus’ death—His torture, His betrayal, His humiliation, His suffering, His isolation—how is there anything “good” about that? This paradox has puzzled believers for centuries. After all, when we think of the word “good,” we tend to think of things that are easy, comfortable, or morally right. But Good Friday doesn’t fit that description.
The term “Good Friday” likely originated in the 1200s, with “good” meaning “holy” or “of religious significance,” rather than “pleasant” or “easy.” And though the events we remember on this day may seem anything but pleasant, there is a depth to the word “good” that goes far beyond what we often associate with the word. The cross defies understanding, yet it is the source of our greatest good.
When Good Doesn’t Look Easy
Think about it. It doesn’t make sense that Christ—the Son of God—would leave behind His glory in heaven, become fully human, live as a humble carpenter, and walk among us, healing, teaching, loving, and embracing those around Him, only to be rejected, despised, and ultimately killed. It doesn’t make sense that the perfect, sinless Savior would endure betrayal, be falsely accused, beaten, tortured, and left to die on a cross. But just like the crucifixion, which seemed anything but “good” in the moment, God’s goodness in our lives doesn’t always look like how we expect. Sometimes, it’s hidden in the most unlikely places—behind suffering, sacrifice, and even defeat.
And here’s the key: good doesn’t mean “easy.” It doesn’t mean “without tension.” In fact, Good Friday is all about embracing the tension. At Grace, we often say “Good is ahead”—meaning, there is more than this, beyond the immediate struggle or pain. And Good Friday is the same. It’s a reminder that there is more than the agony, more than the death, more than the darkness.
Jesus knew this. Hebrews 12:2 says “For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross…” And that joy—His resurrection, our redemption—is why we call this Friday “Good.”
God’s plan didn’t end at the cross. It didn’t end with Good Friday. There is more than this Friday.
A Shared Sorrow
“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:4-5
At Grace, we don’t just remember Good Friday—we experience it. This day is unlike any other, and we believe it’s important to enter into its weight with intention. Each year, we create a space of shared sorrow and sacred remembrance, designed to help you step outside your comfort zone and engage deeply. Through a creative and immersive walkthrough experience, you’ll have the opportunity to reflect personally, pray, confess, and lament. It may feel uncomfortable at times, but the sacrifice of Jesus should unsettle us—it’s a reminder of the depth of His love and the cost of our redemption. We set aside the entire day to come together to mourn and reflect on the gravity of Christ’s sacrifice. It’s unlike anything else we do at Grace because the sacrifice of Jesus is unlike anything else.
We must embrace the tension of all that was lost before we can understand all that was gained.
The Promise Of More
Without the cross, there is no resurrection. Without Good Friday, there is no Easter. We can’t understand the power and goodness of His resurrection without first understanding the depth and agony of His sacrifice. Good Friday reminds us that even in the face of death, there is hope. It might not make sense, but that’s exactly the point. It’s in the paradox, in the suffering, in the sacrifice of Jesus, that we begin to glimpse the true meaning of “good.”
In the tension of Good Friday, we uncover a good that surpasses our understanding—a good that promises there is always more than this, even in the darkest moments.
Romans 8:18 says, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” And for the believer, every day can be lived with the assurance that, no matter the struggle, “good is ahead.”
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