Jesus Christ and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Friday

Apr 03, 2026

Where Is God?

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My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.

Psalm 22:1-2 (ESV)

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I bet you’re familiar with these words when reading them in the New Testament.

But many don’t know that Jesus was quoting a familiar Psalm from the cross.

As if to tell the people again what all of this was for.

To be sure, Jesus was experiencing the worst agony imaginable for the first time in His eternal existence.

By becoming sin on our behalf it forced the Father to turn away from Him.

Only great love could drive someone to endure all of that.

I’m convinced that even if the whole world were perfect and I alone needed salvation, Jesus would still endure the shame of the cross.

Same for you too.

That is why we celebrate Good Friday today.

Of course it’s not good that our savior had to come to earth, live as a fleshly human, take on all the sin & shame of the world, and die in the process.

Not good … except Sunday’s coming.

Resurrection Sunday makes all the difference in the universe.

It’s what turns a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad Friday into … well … Good Friday.

So, what to do on this day?

I suggest taking some extra time to think about the weight of sin.

Really reflect on what made it necessary for Jesus to do the work He did.

Remember the shame.

And then thank God Almighty that Sunday is coming.

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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