Good Friday: How did Jesus view his death?

Jesus viewed his death as nothing less than the accomplishment of God's eternal, loving plan to bring us back home to him.

We call the Friday before Easter "Good Friday."  On it, we remember how Jesus was flogged, mocked, and crucified then died and was buried.  That sounds quite sad and tragic.  So why do we call it good Friday?  What's so good about it?

In order to understand the goodness of Jesus' death, we need to understand Jesus' perspective on it.  Jesus' perspective should inform our perspective.  What Jesus thought of his death should inform how we think about his death.  Here are four ways Jesus viewed his death from The Gospel According to John.  As you read them, you can listen to the song playlist to the right.  I've selected these songs to help you reflect on Jesus' death and worship him this Good Friday.

First, Jesus saw his death as the accomplishment of God's plan.  Jesus knew he would be betrayed (John 13:2; 13:21-30), but that it was the fulfillment of Scripture (13:18).  Jesus knew that he was hated, but that it was the fulfillment of Scripture (15:25).  Jesus knew that he would lay down his life as the Good Shepherd (10:11, 10:17-18), what kind of death he was going to die (18:32), and that this was God's will (18:11).  As Jesus was about to go to the cross, he said that he had accomplished all the work God gave him to do (17:4) and before he died he said, "It is finished" (19:30).

Second, Jesus chose to die on our behalf.  Jesus saw his death as the fulfillment of the work God gave him to do so he willingly gave his life.  Jesus explicitly said, "No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord" (John 10:18).  Jesus was not surprised by his death or anything leading up to it.  He knew Judas would betray him (prediction: 13:2, 13:11, 13:18-19, 13:21-30; fulfillment: 18:1-11), he knew Peter would deny him (prediction: 13:38; 18:15-27), he knew all his disciples would desert him (16:32), and he knew how he would die (18:32).  Jesus was not a victim but a willing sacrifice (1:29) and a loving friend (15:13).

Third, Jesus saw his death as the clearest representation of God's love.  Jesus' death shows his love as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (10:11, 10:14-15).  Jesus' death shows he is the most loving friend (15:13).  Jesus said over and over again that he and the Father are one (10:30) and that he is in the Father and the Father is in him (14:10).  He and the Father are totally in sync.  Jesus only did what the Father told him to do.  Because of this, whoever has seen Jesus has seen the Father (14:9).  Jesus, God the Son, glorifies God the Father by perfectly revealing what he is like (1:18).  Jesus makes the glory of the Father known (1:14).  Jesus willingly walked into suffering and death which shows God's great love for us.

Fourth and finally, Jesus saw his death as his glorification.  Jesus' death looked like shameful defeat.  But in actuality, Jesus said it is the moment where he is glorified.  It's the moment where his weight, worth, and importance are seen most clearly because by his death he would become the Way to God, would most clearly display the Truth about God, and by it become the one who is the Life of God who gives eternal life (14:6; 17:1-5).  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life because he died the death we deserve to bring us back to God.  In his death, Jesus proved himself to be the obedient Son who accomplishes the purposes of the Father.  In doing that, he shows himself to be the King we all need to reconnect us with the God we've all rejected.

In love, God made a plan to reconnect us with him by sending his Son who willingly suffered and died in our place to provide forgiveness.  Jesus' death is nothing less than the accomplishment of God's eternal, loving plan to bring us back home to him.

If you want to read about Jesus' death in the Gospel According to John, you can read John 18-19.  It can also be found in Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, and Luke 22-23.

Reflection: How does it feel to be loved this much?  

Activity: Take some time to thank God for his love for you so clearly expressed on Good Friday by Jesus.