What’s so good about Good Friday? Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried, so how do we call it good? Good Friday is indeed a solemn day of lament. Lament is part of life – even Jesus called out, “My God, my God, my Father, why have You forsaken me?” And haven’t we all felt abandoned and forsaken? On Good Friday, we remember the suffering of Jesus, and we also look around us and see suffering both close to home and far away. It’s real, it’s awful, and we lament.
Then comes the next part. Though Jesus died, He was not forsaken. First, He asked God to forgive the very people who crucified Him. Then with His last breath, “Into Your hands, I commend my spirit.” And that’s exactly what happened. Good Friday then becomes a story of sacrifice, of forgiveness, and of redemption.
Join us this Good Friday for serves at 3:00 pm at Chetek Lutheran Church, or a shared service at 6:30 pm at United Methodist Church in Chetek.