On a dark Friday two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. Powerful members of the religious, political, and military communities colluded to strip him naked, mock him publicly, and crucify him. Yet two millennia later, Christians—who believe that Jesus is the Son of God—celebrate that dark day by calling it Good Friday.
Why on earth would Christians refer to this day as “good” Friday?
[To read the rest of this article, originally published at Fox News Opinion, click here.]
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Dr. Ashford, I appreciate you taking the time to reach so many with word of Jesus. I especially appreciate what you said about the reconciliation Jesus brought, especially with regards to race and nationality. That can’t be emphasized enough in this day and age. However, you wrote something questionable as well, specifically that “Jesus suffered so that we would not have to suffer.” Surely there must be a better way to phrase this. As phrased, I think it often does more to make people question if Jesus really accomplished anything than to make them aware of the truth of what He did.
I say this because many of us suffer terribly, sometimes even for longer and sometimes of even more painful deaths (in terms of the amount and length of suffering) than Jesus even suffered. So if the reason He suffered is so we don’t have to, then He did not accomplish what He set out to do.
So I think the better way to say this is that He suffered so our suffering will not be meaningless. We still have to suffer, but He has suffered along with us and, through the reconciliation he wrought and the resurrection He lives, gives us hope that our suffering has a purpose.
Jason, thank you. You make a good point. I should have said he suffered so that we will not have to suffer “eternally.” That is what I meant.