Anticipating Worship: Good Friday, April 18, 2025—Signs of Salvation: The Cross

What makes Good Friday Good?

The day on which Christians commemorate the death of their Savior is understandably a complex day. Even the name bears some complexity. How could a Friday full of so much sorrow be called “Good?” Christians have often expressed the answer as, “what was bad for him is indeed good for us!” But perhaps there’s more to the name than this. “Good Friday” may also derive from the Middle English “God’s Friday,” similar to how “Good-bye” comes from “God be with You”. This understanding emphasizes that God himself used this day to unleash his wrath and judgment against all human sin upon his own Son.

Why the sign of the cross?

The central theme of this most solemn day is the cross, a word that in the New Testament reverberates with rich and manifold meaning. During the ministry of Jesus, the shape itself would have struck fear into the hearts of any inhabitant of the Roman Empire, as it represented the ultimate penalty for disobedience. But in a single afternoon, Jesus completely changed what the cross meant for those who put their trust in him. It now proclaims the sacrifice and self-giving love of Christ, carried out through his perfect obedience and atonement. On the one hand, it is an instrument of death. On the other hand, it is a symbol of life.

As the essence of Christian preaching (1 Corinthians 1:17-18), the cross is featured prominently in our sanctuary, both draped beside the baptismal font and displayed high above the altar. For now, the cross bars shut the image of the resurrected Christ. But in anticipation of his promise, “I am with you always,” the Easter celebration is just “on the other side of the door...”

Want to hear more? See you this Good Friday at 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. We also offer a Good Friday Service of Darkness (Tenebrae) at 7:00 p.m.