Thoughts on Good Friday

This Good Friday I am perhaps more aware of than others in the past. I have, of course, always recognized and celebrated Easter. But with President Russel M Nelson's invitation to participate in a Worldwide Fast this Good Friday, it has caused me to stop and think more about it.

I wonder how Christ feels about it being called "Good" Friday. It was certainly not a "good" day for Him in the traditional sense. It started with a sleepless night during which He suffered in Gethsemane for the sins and pains of all mankind, followed by a betrayal of one closest to Him. Then followed a series of illegal and unethical "trials", a charge as a blasphemer which - in His case only - was inaccurate as He truly is the Son of God.
He was spit on, He was mocked, He was blindfolded and struck and asked to prophesy who had hit Him.
The whole time, Christ had the power - at any moment - to end this ridicule and injustice. He had the power, as He reminded Peter, to ask the Father and have "more than twelve legions of angels" to come to His aid and protection (Matthew 26:53). 
It was not a "good" day in the sense we think of when we ask our kids after they come home from school, "did you have a good day?"
But it was a very good day in the sense of the evil overcome, the sacrifice made that would save the world from darkness and sin and death.

Here are a few brief thoughts as I read the scriptures detailing the events of the Thursday night and Friday of Holy Week.

First, Barabbas. I owe this insight to Camille Fronk Olson, a beloved religion professor of mine. Barabbas means "son of the father". He was a seditionist and murderer, we are told. The punishment for this crime was most likely to be the exact punishment that Christ received - public crucifixion. As Pilate asks if the Jews would have him release Jesus Christ - the true "Son of the Father" - to them, they instead ask for Barabbas to be released. 
And so Barabbas - the man guilty of sin and "worthy" of crucifixion - goes free. And Christ - the man who is wholly innocent and devoid of sin - goes on to scourging and crucifixion.
He took the place of Barabbas.
We are Barabbas.
He takes the punishment for our sins - our sentence of crucifixion - and puts it upon Himself, so that we can go free.
So that we can truly become sons and daughters of the Father.
So that we can live with Him again.

Second, in John's account of the confrontation in the Garden, the guards approach and Christ asks, "whom seek ye?"
"Jesus of Nazareth", they say.
"I am He," Christ responds.
Or, more properly written, "I Am He"
The guards fall back. 
(John 18:5-8)
I love this account of the betrayal. I have often assumed they fell back in fear because of the majesty, the fearlessness, and the absolute power and goodness they perceived in Jesus in that moment.
And I think that has something to do with it for sure.
But as I read it this morning, I perceived more.
The Egyptians worshipped many gods, and so Moses asked God, if the children of Israel ask what is the name of the God who sent me, what should I tell them? (I'm paraphrasing).
"I AM that I AM" was the answer. "Thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, "I AM hath sent me unto you."
(Exodus 3:13-14).
I believe that the reason the guards fell back was not only because of Christ's majesty and power, but because of His declaration that He was - and is - the Jehovah of the Old Testament, the God who freed the Children of Israel from Egypt - the very liberation that was being celebrated during that Passover season. 

He is our God, and we are His people - or we can be, if we choose to follow and serve Him.
I testify of His divinity. I glory in His life and His infinite sacrifice. I love and worship Him.