Good Friday – A Sacred Day of Sacrifice and Victory

Today is Good Friday—a day that carries both sorrow and hope. It marks the day our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was crucified. It is “good” not because of the suffering, but because of what His suffering accomplished.

✝️ A Day of Fulfillment

More than 2,000 years ago, the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled:

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
—Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)

On this day, Jesus bore the weight of the world’s sin. He, the sinless Son of God, took upon Himself the judgment we deserved. His death was not an accident—it was the divine plan of redemption.

🩸 The Lamb of God

John the Baptist declared:

“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
—John 1:29 (KJV)

Good Friday reminds us that Jesus is the perfect Lamb, sacrificed once and for all. His blood was poured out not just for Israel, but for the entire world—for you and me.

💔 The Moment of the Cross

As Jesus hung upon the cross, mocked and beaten, He still thought of others. He forgave the thief beside Him. He asked the Father to forgive His tormentors. And then, in His final moments:

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”
—John 19:30 (KJV)

“It is finished.” These were not words of defeat—they were a declaration of victory. The debt of sin was paid in full. The veil in the temple was torn. Access to the Father was opened. Redemption was secured.

🌅 The Silence Before the Resurrection

Good Friday leads us into a time of reflection. Saturday brings silence. But Sunday brings resurrection. The darkness of Friday is necessary for the light of Sunday.

Jesus’ death was not the end—it was the beginning of new life for all who believe.

He Felt It All – The Personal Power of Christ’s Atonement

There are days when the weight of life feels unbearable. We carry grief, guilt, shame, anxiety, loss, rejection, loneliness… and sometimes we wonder if anyone truly understands what we’re going through.

But there is One who does.

✝️ He Suffered With Us—And For Us

The Atonement of Jesus Christ wasn’t just about paying a spiritual debt in some abstract way—it was deeply personal. He didn’t just die for “the world.” He died for you. He suffered, not in a general sense, but in a deeply individual way.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…”
—Isaiah 53:4 (KJV)

That means every heartbreak you’ve felt, Jesus bore it. Every moment of fear, abandonment, abuse, temptation, and despair—you were on His mind. He didn’t just carry sin; He carried sorrow.

When He knelt in Gethsemane, He began to feel the crushing weight of our burdens. Luke tells us:

“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
—Luke 22:44 (KJV)

He felt your guilt… so you wouldn’t have to carry it forever.

He felt your loneliness… so you would never truly be alone.

He felt your unworthiness… so He could declare you worthy by grace.

💔 Our Emotions Matter to God

Sometimes we feel like we have to “be strong” or that our emotions are weaknesses. But Jesus embraced them. He wept. He groaned in His spirit. He cried out in anguish on the cross:

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”
—Matthew 27:46 (KJV)

He wasn’t just quoting prophecy. He was showing us that He knows what it’s like to feel forsaken.

When you cry out to God in your pain, you’re not met with silence. You’re met with understanding. Christ doesn’t stand at a distance. He meets us in our sorrow, and He walks with us through it.

🕊️ The Atonement Isn’t Just for After Death—It’s for Today

We often talk about salvation as something that affects where we go after we die—but the Atonement is for right now.

It means:

• You don’t have to live in shame.
• You don’t have to carry that secret burden alone.
• You don’t have to pretend you’re okay when you’re broken inside.

Jesus understands every emotion. And more than that, He took them into Himself so He could offer you peace in exchange for pain, beauty for ashes, and hope instead of despair.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
—Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

🙏 The Invitation

The Atonement is the greatest act of love the world has ever known. And it wasn’t just a historical event—it’s a present reality. Jesus is alive, and He’s reaching for you.

If you’re carrying something too heavy, give it to Him.

If you feel broken, let Him restore you.

If you feel like no one sees you—He does. He always has.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…”
—Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

Jesus not only knows what you feel—He has felt it. And He conquered it. For you.

The cross was not just about death. It was about love. Intimate, personal, sacrificial love. A love that knows your name, your story, and every scar on your heart.

This is what makes Good Friday “good.” Not because of the pain, but because of what that pain purchased: your freedom. Your healing. Your redemption.

May you feel the nearness of Christ today—not as a distant Savior, but as the One who walks with you, weeps with you, and loves you more than words could ever express.