Why is it called Good Friday?

The Friday before Easter Sunday, when the secular world acknowledges that "Christians" celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, is known as Good Friday. Not everyone who says they are Christian believes in the Resurrection.

Oprah Winfrey says she is a Christian but does not believe Jesus is the only way to heaven. Actor Michael Landon said he believed in the teachings of Jesus but did not accept Him as the Son of God. Jane Fonda says she is a Christian but does not believe Jesus died for our sins.

This article highlights the views of those who believe Jesus rose from the dead. There may be nonbelievers and those who read the Bible who may wonder how a date associated with an innocent man being tortured and murdered can be considered good.

There is disagreement among believers on the day that Jesus was crucified. Some say it was Thursday, while others hold to Friday. Still, most believers agree that Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday morning.

When I was in the 6th grade in 1969, a White friend told me her grandmother said that the Jews killed Jesus. This was a sentiment that some Caucasians used to promote Anti-Semitism.

The scriptures tell us that Jesus came to die because it was His purpose, which means that everything went according to divine plan. Consider I John 3:8

He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Those who believe in Jesus may not understand every aspect of why He would suffer for the sins of mankind, but ultimately, what happened to Him was good because of the benefits.

On the day of the Crucifixion, scriptures say in Matthew 26:67–68, Mark 14:65, Luke 22:63–65 that Jesus was spat on, blindfolded and struck, mocked and beaten.

He was flogged with a whip (likely with a cat o nine tails embedded with metal/bone), which caused deep wounds and severe blood loss. This can be found in Matthew 27:26 and John 19:1.

The soldiers mocked Jesus by blindfolding Him, placing a robe on him, and asking Him to prophesy who was hitting Him. They continued spitting on Him and forcing a crown of nail-like thorns into his scalp, and calling him “King of the Jews.” Matthew 27:27–31, Mark 15:16–20, John 19:2–3.

In Luke 23:26–32 and John 19:17, we read that Christ was forced to carry His own heavy cross after being up all night and abused. As He made His way up Golgotha's Hill, He was weak and fell under the weight. Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry it the rest of the way.

Jesus was nailed to the cross with spikes in his legs and hands. The pain had to be excruciating. He hung there for six hours from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. when He cried, "It is finished", and died.

The Friday before Easter is considered "Good" because of what happened on Sunday. The Bible tells us in John 20:1 that early on the first day of the week, Jesus rose from His grave with all power in His hands.

For those who believe, like Peter, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, Good Friday was a necessary evil that offers assurance of heaven and reuniting with believing loved ones for eternity. The pain on Friday brought the promise of Sunday morning.

Faith in Christ is not supposed to be about hate or judging anyone's lifestyle. It's about spreading the good news that He is risen indeed. There is no other gospel message.