What Is So Good About It

Good Friday. When I was much younger than I am today, I had often wondered why it was called Good Friday. I remember asking people why was it called Good Friday because what is so good about death. I cannot remember many of the answers, but suffice it to say, most were the standard, “That’s what they call it,” assuming that I knew who the mystical “they” were. Nevertheless, the question was never really answered to my young curiosity. So what is so good about it?
It is with utmost importance that Jesus died. Without death, there can be no resurrection. In order to be resurrected, there must be death. No death = no resurrection. Why did Jesus have to die? It was part of God’s eternal plan.
From the first sin, there was a blood sacrifice. Many people, when reading the account of Adam’s sin in Genesis, glance over the part of the sin sacrifice. “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21 NASB) Where did these garments of skin come from? The word in the Hebrew that is commonly translated into skin is a term for leather. What is leather? The hide of an animal. Upon their transgression, God sacrificed an animal to show that he was covering, not only their bodies, but that the blood of the animal was covering their sin. The first sin sacrifice.
Throughout the Old Testament, there are many instances of animal sacrifices. Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, among many more of the forefathers of the faith. Moses was given strict rules for the proper way and purpose of the sin sacrifice. The most important aspect is that it had to be an animal without spot or blemish.
However, these sacrifices served only as a reminder of their sin. It did not cover nor erase their sin. “If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:2-4 NASB)
There had to be a sacrifice that would take away and forever remove the sins of mankind. That type of sacrifice had to be the perfect unblemished spotless SINLESS sacrifice. “since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:21b-24 NASB)
This sacrifice involved Jesus’ death. It is so important that Paul listed as a matter of first importance, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4 NASB)
Jesus’ death covered the sins of all mankind. It is of utmost importance that Jesus died. Because of the death of Jesus, we all have the opportunity for eternal life. That is why it is good.

What Is Required of You

At some point in our lives, most people will ask the all familiar question, “What does God require me to do?” While those who ask this question are typically looking for some specific answer about some specific issue or decision — the answer God gives tends to be more generalized yet very comprehensive.
For some we look to do the minimum. What is the most basic thing that can be done? Does God just require that I be in church? Will that make him happy? Will it please him if I teach a Sunday school class? What about giving the full 10% of my weekly income to the offering today? What is the minimum that I need to do?
Many years ago there was a movie titled, “Office Space.” One of the main characters worked at a restaurant where they are required to wear a certain amount of “flair”, buttons that were used to accessorize their uniforms. There was a minimum requirement to wear, and the character got into an argument with the boss about the amount she was wearing. She was wearing the minimum, and the boss was not too happy, but there was not much recourse for him, as it was the minimum. The argument was simple: He asked her, “Are you content with just doing the minimum and getting by“. He was not happy with it but she was all too content to do the minimum. Sometimes that is what Christians do: Just the minimum.
Many others take to the other extreme. Would God be satisfied if I became a hermit, and wore black, scratchy clothes? Would he be satisfied if I took a trip to a holy site, crawling all the way? Would he be pleased if I sold my house, and gave all the money to the pastor? Do I need to memorize the whole Bible?
Which brings the question, “What is required of you?” Micah then answers, "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 NIV) In other words — whatever you decide to do with your life, and wherever that decision may take you - be sure it contains these three things: to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.
To act justly is to ensure that all things are done with fairness and equality. Many times to act justly takes years to accomplish. Throughout American history, there are many instances where Christians were prompted to act justly and did not live to see their goals accomplished, but through their actions, these goals were accomplished. Thomas Jefferson originally had written into the Declaration of Independence emancipation of the slaves, citing that if all men are created equal, then that included the slaves. While he did not see the emancipation of slaves, he did release his own, and pushed for stronger anti-slavery laws. Less than one hundred years from the signing of the Declaration of Independence, slavery was illegal, and all humans were considered to be free people.
Throughout American history, it is evident how the church influenced justice for all people. The pilgrims sought freedom of worship, a way to worship God in any manner. All worship was to be considered equal, with no specific denomination receiving superior or inferior treatment from the land. The suffrage movement began in a church in Ithaca New York, seeking equality for women to vote. The civil rights movement, being led by Martin Luther King Jr, who not only having a doctorate, but he was an ordained Pastor.
Christians throughout history have grasped this first concept of acting justly.
Love mercy. A common adage says that grace gives what we do not deserve, while mercy withholds what we do deserve. To me, it is a bit clunky at best, especially if we do not fully understand grace and mercy. A generalized example would be; we deserve eternal punishment for our sins, yet we receive eternal life. Grace gives us eternal life (It is by grace through faith that you have been saved . . . Ephesians 2:8 NIV), mercy withholds eternal punishment. (For the wages of sin is death . . . Romans 6:23 NIV)
To love mercy is to show mercy. To show mercy is to receive mercy. Showing mercy to others is a prayer that is prayed to God for us to be treated in the same manner. Jesus states, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." (Matthew 5:7 NIV) Jesus also states, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:2 NIV) When mercy is shown, used, and measured, it will be shown, used and measured towards us.
The final aspect is to walk humbly with your God. Our basic problem as humans is we put ourselves in the center of our lives. We say these things: My job first even if it means sacrificing family. My happiness first, even if it means divorce. My success first, even if I have to stab someone else in the back. My self-esteem first, even if I have to cut someone down with my words. My plan for my life first, even if it means ignoring God.
The best definition of humility is found in the Scriptures, Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” (NIV) Andrew Murray, a Christian writer, Pastor, and missionary to South Africa, said, "The humble man feels no jealousy or envy. He can praise God when others are preferred and blessed before him. He can bear to hear others praised while he is forgotten because ... he has received the spirit of Jesus, who pleased not Himself, and who sought not His own honor. Therefore, in putting on the Lord Jesus Christ he has put on the heart of compassion, kindness, meekness, longsuffering, and humility."
Pride has no place in the presence of the Lord, nor in the service we render unto His name. Pride will never do justice, for it only seeks its own. Pride will never show mercy, because it delights in oppression. Pride will never walk with God, for it sees itself to be equal to the Most High. Thus, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Humility is the God-given self-assurance that eliminates the need to prove to others the worth of who you are, and the rightness of what you do. It is the freedom to be yourself before God, and before others.
If you will agree with God and submit to His will for your life, He will make you a man or woman of justice and mercy; clothed with humility! Whatever you decide to do with your life, and wherever that decision may take you — be sure that these three things are true of you in every place and situation — you do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God

What Is Required of You from Daniel Vandenburg on Vimeo.