I always find Good Friday a study in contradictions – such horrible things happened, but they happened for our good. There was so much sorrow, but also joy when Jesus declared that “it is finished.” It was a day marked by betrayal, denial and scattering of those closest to Jesus, and yet Jesus never wavered from his purpose – he was rock steady through it all.

We Christians are an Easter people – a people of the Resurrection. 

But I admit I have to agree with this: 

It’s tempting to skip over the tough and horrible scenes of Good Friday. But I am not convinced we can fully celebrate Easter unless we have observed Good Friday. 

If Jesus had to endure unimaginable pain to ensure that our sin would be forgiven, then the least we can do is not look away from that pain. It always feels important to me, to recognize what he endured. 

But that does not mean we do it without hope…or even that we fully enter into the shock and dismay that his friends would have felt at his arrest, flogging and death. 

Because this is also true: 

It is Friday now, but Sunday IS coming. Let us wait in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection.