Why is Good Friday good??

DISCLAIMER:

This is not a theologically packed post or even matter-of-fact. This is an outlet for these thoughts that bump around in my head and won't let me sleep until I offer to share them with you. So, here we go.

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I made a list of the people Jesus died for, and I'm pretty sure you're in it:

Sick people.
Healthy people.
Tall people.
Short people.
Slender people.
Fat people.
Educated people.
Rapists.
Prostitutes.
Lonely people.
Murderers.
Pastors.
Doctors.
Homeless people.
Wealthy people.
Selfish people.
Martyrs.
Apathetic people.
Missionaries.
Well intentioned people.
Poor people.
Mentally disabled people.
Liars.
Teachers.
Thieves.
Kings.
Elderly people.
Geniuses.
Unborn babies.
Foolish people.
Attractive people.
Unwanted people.
Physically ruined people.
Gay people.
Clean people.
Blasphemous people.
Lesbians.
Judas.
Barabbas.
You.
Me.

"For God did not send His son to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

-John 3:17

What are you celebrating tonight?? 

I never gave much thought to Good Friday or Easter until just a few years ago. Without Easter, Christmas would be pretty lame. Another baby was born and died a 30-ish years later on a Friday. Lived a pretty cool life. Got some rumors trailing after him, some might be true but it's really no big deal. 

What's the point in Jesus dying so we can live if He can't even defeat death?? Any man can say they will protect you and even die for you! But what man can come back to love you after that task has been completed?? 

So, why is Good Friday 'good'?? A man who was a benefit to society, a law abiding citizen [for the most part], a welcome face in circles shunned by the public is called out in the middle of the night for a hearty beat down and questioning session in front of religious and political leaders that don't really want to deal with him or have already made up their minds and then dies naked tied and nailed up on a tree trunk. That does not sound good to me. That sounds like a terrible beginning to a novel that ends with everyone being far too happy and perfect. 

It's good because it is the drum roll to freedom. That's Good Friday. It's not the instant solution to life. It's the way out of your death penalty. 

"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become servants of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

-Romans 6:20-25

What's a gift if it isn't free?? A con.

Jesus did not come to barter for your soul and trick you into getting the short end of the stick. He lived to die. He died for you to live. Not so you'd have a pulse now, but for you to always live. Good Friday is a way for us to remember how much we cost and how much was willingly paid. 

Freedom never tasted so sweet.