Today is Good Friday, the Holy Week observation of the day Jesus of Nazareth was crucified.

There are those who wonder exactly why we should refer to this as Good Friday when it commemorates such a terrible death.

Most Christians learn that what makes this day good is that it was a well-planned and necessary step to Christ’s resurrection three days later.

There is a powerful sermon by the late Tony Campolo which explains it all. I recommend viewing it on YouTube by clicking on the link below.

It’s Friday, But Sunday’s Coming

As powerful as Campolo’s message is, it may not touch you until you reach a deeper understanding of what Christ’s crucifixion means to you personally.

I find this most clearly expressed in the lyrics to the great old hymn At Calvary:

Years I spent in vanity and pride,
Caring not my Lord was crucified,
Knowing not it was for me He died
On Calvary.

• Refrain:
  Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
  Pardon there was multiplied to me;
  There my burdened soul found liberty
  At Calvary.

At Calvary by Wm. R. Newell, 1895

It is when it finally sunk in that what happened on that long ago Friday, Christ’s suffering and sacrifice, was for me, that I truly understood what was so very good about it.