how could it possibly be a good friday?

Today is Good Friday.

Why is it “good?”  How could it possibly be good?

• In a culture that is ever so quick to get to the product
• In a culture that is ever so quick to avoid suffering and pain and seek ways to medicate ourselves to avoid pain
• In a culture that is ever so quick to jump to the bunnies and eggs
• In a culture that is ever so quick to commercialize, capitalize, and consumerize
• In a culture that is ever so quick to jump to the good news of Easter Sunday and Resurrection
• In a culture that is ever so quick to minimize the extent of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion
• In a culture that is ever so quick to ‘disneyize’ the events of the brutal death of a man
• In a culture that is ever so quick to grab hold of grace as if we are entitled to it

Today matters.
Dark Friday matters.
His death matters.

So, let’s not be so quick to bypass this day. There’s a reason why in the Christian tradition – this day and service is considered the longest and darkest day of the year.

Let it be long.  Let it be dark.  Let it be silent.

Let it be uncomfortable. Death is always uncomfortable – especially when we’re complicit in this death.

While the good news of our beauty are clearly exemplified in the glorious news of the Resurrection…the depths of our darkness and depravityare  also exposed in the last days of Jesus’ life and crucifixion.

And once we understand, if even for a glimpse, the depths of our depravity and brokenness, the amazing depth of God’s grace and mercy is that much more understood and experienced. We understand that our broken image can be restored by the Creator of that original beauty.

Thank you Jesus for this day. For Dark Friday. For Holy Friday. For the cross, sacrifice, and atonement.

Thank you God that you have redeemed this day to be good.

by Eugene Cho. From http://eugenecho.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/how-could-it-possibly-a-good-friday/