I’ve never understood why they call today “Good Friday.” It seems to me that the day we remember Jesus’ death on the cross should be known as anything but good. I don’t pause often enough to consider why Jesus died or what it cost Him. So today is an appropriate time to contemplate the truth of these questions.
Why did He die?
I could go into detail about the sequence of events that took Jesus from the Mount of Olives to the cross, but that isn’t the why. The why is us. You and I, we have a sin problem that has existed since Eve first took a bite of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:22 that, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” And yet, there aren’t enough animals in the world that we could sacrifice in order to adequately cover all of our iniquities.
So why did Jesus die?
He had to die in order for us to find and experience salvation.
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” ~ 2 Corinthians 5:21
Sometimes it seems that the farther we get away from the cross, the more likely we are to “minimize” our sin. Instead of labeling it as something that separates us from a Holy God, we use soft, watery language to describe our sin. Phrases such as:
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- My secret
- My struggle
- My problem
- My stumble
- My weakness
- My one thing
- A stronghold
- A stupid choice
- A wrongdoing
- A generational curse
- It’s just a bad habit
- I made a mistake
- I wasn’t thinking
- Foolish thinking
- Acting in my flesh
- Giving into temptation
- No One’s Perfect
- We all make mistakes
- It’s not as bad as …
- At least I didn’t …
When we use these clichés to diminish our behavior, it sounds like we aren’t sinners in need of a Savior, but rather silly women who can’t seem to get it right. These misrepresentations are easier on our ears and egos, but they are lies.
We cheapen what Christ did for us on the cross when we don’t call sin by its real name.
We can’t miss the cross.
It’s your sin — and mine — that put him there. It is our:
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- Abortion
- Addiction
- Affair (physical or emotional)
- Angry Outbursts
- Browser History
- Comparisons
- Complaining
- Deceit
- Gossip
- Grumbling
- Hatred
- Hypocrisy
- Idolatry
- Insecurity
- Laziness
- Lust
- Lying tongue
- Materialism
- Narcissism
- Omissions
- Pride
- Promiscuity
- Selfishness
- Self-righteousness
- Stealing
- Slander
- Unforgiveness
- Ungrateful heart
- Vanity
- Victim mentality
- Worry
- Worldly theology
- Wrong motives
It was not your silly mistake that sent Jesus to cross. Your sins and mine are the reasons why He chose the cross. We don’t deserve His sacrifice, we could never earn it, but we desperately need it.
When my child comes in from playing outside with a flower that he picked in the yard, I smile and think, “He’s so cute. That’s so sweet.” If I’m not careful, I can minimize Jesus’ atoning work on the cross by viewing it with a similar parental lens. That’s so sweet what Jesus did for me. How cute. Or I can even romanticize the cross. I can look at the cross and make it all about me. “Oh, He loves me so much.” Almost as if I’m worthy of his death and sacrifice.
But the cross isn’t about me. It’s about Him: His holiness, righteousness, perfection, and heart for humanity. I need to start remembering the cross and looking at it from His perspective.
My Sin Cost Jesus.
Recently I read through all four gospels, journaling everything I could find that happened to Jesus. With tears streaming down my face, I wrote down all that He endured. He could have stopped the abuse at any moment, but He chose not to because He is love (1 John 4:16).
What did the death of Jesus Cost Him?
What price did He pay for your Sin?
The Scriptures tell us that on the original Good Friday Jesus endured:
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- Judas lying to him when he said, “Not I, Rabbi.”
- Betrayal with a kiss, by a friend.
- Disappointment by his closest friends when He wanted them near. He told them, “My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death.” He asked them to stay awake with Him, but they fell asleep.
- Deep distress and trouble knowing what was to come.
- Emotional anguish to the point of sweating drops of blood.
- Asking God three times for “this cup to pass from me.” (In his humanity, He asks for another way, but in His deity, He did it anyway.)
- Abandonment from all the disciples who ran away at His arrest.
- Peter denying, three times, that he even knew Jesus.
- False witnesses testifying against Him.
- Experiencing a humiliating trial.
- People spitting on His face, striking Him with their fists, slapping Him, mocking Him, and beating Him.
- Having a blindfold put on Him, being hit, and then someone screaming, “Prophesy, Jesus, Who Hit You that time?”
- Being sentenced to death.
- Being tied up and bound.
- Hearing vehement accusations against Himself.
- Being taken from one location to another.
- A wrongful accusation in front of the governor.
- Herod sending Him back to Pilate disgracefully dressed as a king.
- The people choosing to have a notorious criminal released instead of Him.
- Remaining silent rather than vindicating Himself.
- Flogging.
- Someone pressing a crown of thorns onto His head.
- More mocking and hurting.
- Being given a staff to hold and forced to wear a robe— mocking Him and spitting on Him again.
- Taking the staff out of His hands and hitting Him on the head with it again and again.
- Carrying His own cross.
- Nails piercing His feet and hands.
- Hanging next to two thieves, one who continues to mock him.
Jesus Christ, who was with God when the world was created, hung (most likely naked) on the cross, watching people watch Him die. Insults and sneers were some of the last sounds He heard before His death. Yet, His response to all of this torture was to ask God to forgive them.
At the end of His life, Jesus feels forsaken by God. His dad, His very best friend, turns His back on His Son, not because of anything He did, but because of everything we have done.
I don’t know what your sins are, but I do know mine. And while I don’t necessarily like thinking about all that Jesus went through to absolve my sins, I need to reflect on the reality of what my wrongs cost my Lord.
I’m so grateful for the grace I don’t deserve and for the promise that Jesus’ blood washes me whiter than snow.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” ~Isaiah 1:18
I’m so thankful for Good Friday.
darby dugger
Salena Lee says
This is an awesome post. Thank you for sharing this. The specific examples are helpful.
Darby Dugger says
Thank you!