“And where were You when all that I've hoped for?

Where were You when all that I've dreamed?

Came crashing down in shambles around me.

You were on the cross.”

Matt Maher, “You Were On The Cross”

 This year on Good Friday, my wife and I had the distinct privilege of sharing our testimony with our church. It was a truly humbling and powerful experience for all of us, and got me thinking about this question: "What's so good about Good Friday?" After all, what “good” could come out of God himself being brutally tortured and executed on a wooden stake, in full view of a crowd of onlookers? Good Friday was not good, especially for Jesus! Yet as we prepared to share our story, it became clear that contemplating and sharing in the suffering of Jesus-as well as our own suffering–helped us appreciate that much more the hope ultimately found in his resurrection. 

The testimony of God's presence in our lives over the past 10 years has had way more to do with suffering than blessing. We lived out the lyrics above, crying out to God during our lowest times, asking him in anguish, "where are you Lord?" Along with Jesus we questioned through tears: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" But in the midst of it all, we realized there he was all along, alone on the cross, experiencing our suffering right alongside of us. Because of what he endured, we can now reframe our own suffering in light of eternity.

 I encourage you to listen to and meditate upon the lyrics to this song, “You Were On the Cross", allowing them to draw you deeper into the suffering of Christ. And you just may discover what is so good about Good Friday!

 "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. " (Romans 8:18)