{"id":9211,"date":"2023-04-07T13:58:10","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T18:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joanndownsalo.com\/?p=9211"},"modified":"2026-07-09T19:38:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T00:38:25","slug":"whats-so-good-about-good-friday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=9211","title":{"rendered":"What&#8217;s So Good About Good Friday?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I asked the Lord this morning, &#8220;Why would we call this day of remembrance, <em>good? <\/em>Wasn&#8217;t this the worst day of all\u2014Your public, gruesome execution?&#8221; Of all the titles we could come up with: Broken Friday, Awful Friday, Crying Friday\u2014anything feels truer than, <em>Good <\/em>Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>My love makes it good, <\/em><\/strong>whispered the One who said, &#8220;I make all things new.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The love of God redeems every dreadful thing\u2026even our one uncontrollable soul.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It would only take one pair of hands to whip an innocent&#8217;s flesh till he\u2019s practically dead. One heavy hammer is quite enough to crush the feet and hands of a bound man. Just one skilled soldier would know where to thrust a spear\u2014just below the left rib cage, driving it up into the heart\u2014making certain the breath of life drains out. <em>But it was for every one of our beating, bloody hearts <\/em><em>Jesus<\/em><em> died<\/em>\u2014<strong><em>yours and mine.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s not just a day. <strong><em>It\u2019s a holy pathway.<\/em><\/strong>It\u2019s a parting of the raging sea within us.&nbsp; A fleeing from Egypt. It\u2019s a crossing of the wilderness as the Lamb of God surrounds us. A lantern before our feet. The shield against our enemies. The sword and helmet protecting our defenseless head. The day of the Savior\u2019s death is a <em>good day<\/em> for the broken and contrite, the lost who long to be found, the blind who desire to see: <strong><em>to live is Christ and to die is gain.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re joining at six o\u2019clock to remember the day Jesus suffered and died taking our sins away. We\u2019ll bend at the altar with candles burning bright, speak the living word like tongues of fire. And we\u2019ll sing, oh we\u2019ll sing\u2014like children whose hearts are light, giving thanks to our Father into the night. <em>And lo and behold what we thought to offer Him\u2014<\/em><strong><em>will fill us with more praise than our hearts carried in.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, <strong>who loved me and gave Himself for me<\/strong>.&#8221; (Galatians 2:20)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I asked the Lord this morning, &#8220;Why would we call this day of remembrance, good? Wasn&#8217;t this the worst day of all\u2014Your public, gruesome execution?&#8221; Of all the titles we could come up with: Broken Friday, Awful Friday, Crying Friday\u2014anything feels truer than, Good Friday. My love makes it good, whispered the One who said, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143625079,"featured_media":20141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[54418],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9211","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bible"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pacmrQ-2oz","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":15719,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=15719","url_meta":{"origin":9211,"position":0},"title":"What It Means to Actually Walk with God","author":"Jo Alo","date":"June 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"What does it mean when we read in Scripture how some walked with God? Does it mean putting on our shoes and running our palms over feathery prairie grass? Noticing bright red ladybugs and dandelions popping up? Is that what it means to walk with our Creator? Stepping out of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;The Bible&quot;","block_context":{"text":"The Bible","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=54418"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/kids-on-tractor-with-great-grampa-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C756&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/kids-on-tractor-with-great-grampa-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C756&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/kids-on-tractor-with-great-grampa-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C756&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/kids-on-tractor-with-great-grampa-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C756&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/kids-on-tractor-with-great-grampa-2.jpeg?fit=1200%2C756&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":5801,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=5801","url_meta":{"origin":9211,"position":1},"title":"Here\u2019s to Love: What Anniversaries Are Made Of","author":"Jo Alo","date":"June 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"We were the least likely couple. And for good reason. In this picture, we walked out double doors thinking we held the future in our hands. Life was a party, and we were its guests. Six years in, I was the first to want to quit. On us, my kids,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Love&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Love","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=3785"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/27d4b840-e17b-4b04-b50a-5c87308330ed.jpeg?fit=1064%2C1030&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/27d4b840-e17b-4b04-b50a-5c87308330ed.jpeg?fit=1064%2C1030&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/27d4b840-e17b-4b04-b50a-5c87308330ed.jpeg?fit=1064%2C1030&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/27d4b840-e17b-4b04-b50a-5c87308330ed.jpeg?fit=1064%2C1030&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/27d4b840-e17b-4b04-b50a-5c87308330ed.jpeg?fit=1064%2C1030&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2606,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=2606","url_meta":{"origin":9211,"position":2},"title":"Rethinking My Facecrook","author":"Jo Alo","date":"November 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"My identity was faked on Facebook. A bunch of my friends were used as pawns for pillaging. It\u2019s so creepy. I'm so sorry. My picture smiling, hovering over videos concocted to coax and confiscate. Thieves advancing right along with technology. Though confidentiality clauses and privacy policies plaster everything we sign,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;prayer&quot;","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=853"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/img_8636.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/img_8636.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/img_8636.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/img_8636.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/img_8636.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18491,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=18491","url_meta":{"origin":9211,"position":3},"title":"At the Crux of Every Broken Waits Wholeness","author":"Jo Alo","date":"May 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Friends were almost here. You could smell stuffed shells bubbling in the oven, fresh bread ready for slicing. They were bringing the salad. The table was set with Italian pasta bowls, red cloth napkins, and my favorite farm-stenciled goblets . . . until I broke one adding the centerpiece, glass\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;suffering&quot;","block_context":{"text":"suffering","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=82348"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_4090.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1059&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_4090.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1059&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_4090.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1059&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_4090.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1059&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/img_4090.jpeg?fit=1200%2C1059&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15085,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=15085","url_meta":{"origin":9211,"position":4},"title":"Partners with Christ","author":"Jo Alo","date":"January 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Be ready to suffer.1 Peter 4:1How do the saints prepare for battle? They ready themselves for suffering. They apply their mind to the mind of Christ\u2014who humbled Himself unto death.We live in a place where suffering is regarded as wrong, evil, unnecessary. And yet God says, \"Don't be surprised at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;suffering&quot;","block_context":{"text":"suffering","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=82348"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/frantisek-duris-sq4ajophzb4-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/frantisek-duris-sq4ajophzb4-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/frantisek-duris-sq4ajophzb4-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/frantisek-duris-sq4ajophzb4-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/frantisek-duris-sq4ajophzb4-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C901&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11217,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=11217","url_meta":{"origin":9211,"position":5},"title":"&#8220;Why this waste?&#8221; Matthew 26:8","author":"Jo Alo","date":"July 6, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"What's the difference between serving others and doing something extravagant only for Jesus? When the woman at Bethany poured expensive oil on Jesus, she wasn't hindered by those indignant disciples at the table, the poor, or whether she was making a logical decision \u2014 all she knew was she had\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;a new heart&quot;","block_context":{"text":"a new heart","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=696603"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_0967.jpeg?fit=1023%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_0967.jpeg?fit=1023%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_0967.jpeg?fit=1023%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img_0967.jpeg?fit=1023%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/alin-gavriliuc-VlrELBz44zM-unsplash.jpeg?fit=5574%2C3135&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9211","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/143625079"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9211"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9211\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19374,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9211\/revisions\/19374"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9211"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9211"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9211"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}