While the observation of Good Friday and Easter together has far from disappeared in modern Christianity, several Christians may find themselves questioning why we celebrate Good Friday at all and why it’s so good? Allow me to shed light on this central event of the Christian faith. Simply: Good Friday explains what is wrong with the world, and Easter reveals what God has done to make it right.
Christianity teaches that something has gone terribly wrong in human history — the Bible calls this the Fall. Human rebellion against God brought sin, suffering, and death into the world. Evil, injustice, and brokenness are not illusions or social constructs. These things are the real consequences of humanity’s separation from God. Good Friday directly confronts that reality. On this day, Jesus Christ was crucified, suffering the punishment that our sin deserves. The crucifixion reminds us that evil is not merely a problem outside of us; it runs through the human heart. The injustice of the cross—where an innocent man was condemned and executed—reveals the fallen nature of the world. Yet Christians understand that the cross was not just a tragedy. It was also God’s plan of redemption. In Jesus’ death, God took upon Himself the consequences of human sin in order to reconcile humanity to Himself.
Thankfully, this story does not end with Good Friday. Easter Sunday changes everything. Three days after his death and burial, Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Sin and death do not have the final word in our human story. God acted decisively to defeat them. The resurrection confirms that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross accomplished its purpose and that new life is possible through Him.
Because of Easter, Christians know that history is moving toward restoration—not despair. The resurrection is not only proof that Jesus is who He claimed to be; it is also a promise that God will ultimately renew creation and overcome evil.
Together, Good Friday and Easter provide a powerful explanation for both the problem and the hope of the human condition. Good Friday shows the depth of the world’s brokenness. Easter shows the greater power of God’s redemption. In the Christian story, the cross and the emptyw tomb reveal both what is wrong with the world—and how God is making it right.
