As I sat still on this Good Friday morning (long enough to know I have experienced blessed communion with His presence), I began to

think about the goodness of God. Certainly, Chris Tomlin has been used in recent months to remind us that He’s a “Good, Good Father.” But my thoughts continued into Scripture.

Good Friday is the ultimate display of the goodness of God. Paul would much later observe how God in His goodness leads us to repentance and the need for the repentant to continue in His goodness.

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:6-11).

“Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22).

When I slow down to think about the graphic reality of the cruelty of Christ’s suffering and death, or what is often deemed His Passion, I am saddened to know the sinfulness of humanity that demanded such agony. But then I remember again that He willingly went all the way to the Cross because of His goodness and love. Jesus said, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life… I have power to lay it down” (John 10:17-18). Thank you, Jesus, for dying for my sins and taking my place at the Cross.

This old hymn describes it well. It’s been in and out of my consciousness for a few weeks now. Each verse of When I See the Blood speaks rich theological truths, but this one, in particular, rose to my grateful heart.

“O great compassion! O boundless love!
O loving-kindness, faithful and true!
Find peace and shelter under the blood,
And I will pass, will pass over you.”

Father, thank You for being so good. You are perfect in all of your ways. “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31).

Today is Good Friday. “Alas! and did my Savior bleed And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head, For such a worm as I?” (Isaac Watts).

However, Resurrection morning is on the way! And an empty tomb proves He lives, God is good, and there is power to live for the One who died for me.