A Word for Today | Romans 8:28
Many Christians wonder why the day that Jesus died is remembered as “Good Friday.” In the Middle Ages, the day was known as “God Friday,” but over time this slowly changed to Good Friday. The fact that Christians can call “good” the day on which their Savior died tells us quite a lot about the Christian faith. In short, we believe that when Jesus died, God took the worst thing that ever happened on the planet Earth and made it the best possible blessing to those who trust in Him. Good Friday is therefore the greatest proof of the words of Paul in Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”
Could there ever have been anything worse than what happened to Jesus on this day so many years ago? He was the most righteous man who ever lived – perfectly fulfilling God’s law every moment of His life – but He was unjustly accused and convicted without a shred of evidence (Jn. 18:38). Yet God made the unjust sacrifice of the innocent Jesus the means by which we sinners can be justified and forgiven through His blood. Then there is the terrible evil of how the people treated Jesus. What had He ever done to deserve such hatred and cruelty? He lived His whole life in peace and love, healing the sick and teaching God’s way of truth. Yet the crowds called for His crucifixion, the religious leaders mocked Him, and the Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross. Nothing more evil has ever happened in our world. And yet God was at work on Good Friday displaying the most sublime love that has ever been known, providing a sacrifice to deliver us from sins we have committed against Him. 1 John 4:10 says: “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” It is because this was the day when God overthrew evil with the most astonishing display of good that we call this day – the day that Jesus died for our sins – Good Friday.
Romans 8:28 was not only true on Good Friday, but it is true for us every day. What hope God’s abounding grace gives to those who trust Him! There are evil things in this world and the Bible does not call them otherwise. But if we will trust our Lord, knowing His sovereign love even when we do not feel it, we will have a faith that conquers the world. God is working not some things but all things for our good, including those that we fear and suffer from most. For instance, we may never know until we get to heaven all the good that God is working through the coronavirus epidemic. But we can know now that He is and therefore trust Him with thanks and praise. We have many other trials, and for some of us they are truly fearful. But none of them compares to what Jesus endured for us on Good Friday. And by dying for our sins, Jesus ensured that we will have eternal life in the end with God. He is working all things for our good, so let’s show our faith by worshiping Him even in days of fear and dread, knowing that His purpose is to save our souls.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Phillips
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