Read Mark 14:32 – 15:47

Good Friday, which has also been called, “Black Friday” and “Great Friday” has been observed as a day of sorrow and fasting by Christians since the First Century AD. After 400 AD, it began to become more formalized and today most Christian denominations have some form of service that is associated with Good Friday.

Good Friday commemorates the day on which Jesus Christ was tried, scourged, and crucified. Over the years, most Protestant churches have celebrated Good Friday as part of Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.

The amazing thing and the one thing most people do not get about, “Good Friday” is why Christians call it “Good” when it commemorates such an awful miscarriage of justice and underserved suffering!

Mark 14:32-42 First, Good Friday was good because it is the day that Jesus Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and accepted the Cup of Sorrow from the hand of His Father!

Jesus Christ was fully God and therefore could take upon Himself and suffer for the sins of everyone everywhere who will accept Him as their Savior and Lord!

But, Jesus Christ was also fully man and therefore could look into that Cup of Sorrow and plead with His Father that if there was any other way to save sinners; this Cup would be taken away from Him!

Since there is no other way of saving sinners, Jesus did drink from the Cup of Sorrow; and He did become sin for us; and He allowed Himself to be arrested, beaten, crucified, murdered, and buried!

Mark 14:43-52 Second, Good Friday was good because it is the day that the Devil’s lackey betrayed Jesus Christ into the hands of His enemies!

Judas was the one who betrayed Him, but they all abandoned Him!

*Note: Every time Judas’ name appears in the Bible, it is followed by the phrase, “who also betrayed Jesus.”

Mark 14:53-65 Third, Good Friday was good because it is the day that Jesus Christ made the good confession before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin! Cf. 14:61-62

Mark 14:66-72 Fourth, Good Friday was good because while it is the day that Jesus Christ was betrayed by Simon Peter; Jesus forgave him and restored him to fellowship and ministry! Cf. John 21:15-19

Mark 15:1-15 Fifth, Good Friday was good because it is the day that Jesus Christ was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate! Cf. Mark 8:31-32

Mark 15:16-32 Sixth, Good Friday was good because it is the day that Jesus Christ was crucified and made atonement to His Father for our sins!                             Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Mark 15:33-41 Seventh, Good Friday was good because it is the day that Jesus Christ, the eternal living Creator God actually died on the cross to pay for our sins!

Mark 15:42-47 Eighth, Good Friday was good because it is the day that Jesus Christ was buried proving that He was actually dead!