There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13 (NLT)

Think back to any story where a character has to make a great sacrifice for the greater good or for a loved one. The truth is that there are multitudes of examples from fiction, and from real life, where sacrifice at the expense of one’s self is all but too common. Yet, we continue to look upon such sacrifices as honorable. Brave. Admirable.

On Good Friday, we mark the day when Christ is crucified on the cross. As a child, this fact incensed me; I remember frowning down at my Bible as I followed the story of Christ being led up the hill of Golgotha and then nailed to the cross, while the followers that were still with him could do nothing except watch helplessly. 

I remember thinking if I were there, I would have done something. I would have spoken up.

Simon Peter said the same thing too, and we know how well he kept that promise. Many of his disciples, men who had followed him with each and every step and considered themselves to be his closest friends, ran away when they saw that danger was coming for them and abandoned him.

Jesus didn’t run, though. Was he afraid at all? Jesus himself asks God that if it’s in his will to take his cup (of suffering) away from him (Matthew 26:39). But Jesus did not run away from his impending death and went through with it, because he knew that there was a promise of a better tomorrow once the long-awaited prophecy was finally fulfilled.

‘Good Friday’ is such an oxymoron to me. The Crucifixion itself is so depressing for me to read; you have a story of someone who is abandoned and is spat upon, and killed in such a humiliating fashion.

In stories found in books, films, video games and other mediums, this is what we know to be the climax in the story. You recognize it all-too often in films: Often times there’s some discovery or argument that sets the protagonist reeling back from the revelation, and their journey comes to a brief screeching halt.

Jesus’ followers and enemies likely didn’t see it like that. They saw his death as the end of Jesus’ journey, and believed it to be concluded for good. 

God rewrote the script, though, and what we now celebrate as Easter now is actually a triumphant victory of Christ defeating sin’s hold on us, once and for all.

Since then, we have found and created stories that pattern after Christ’s sacrifice in various fashions, whether the creators are Christ followers or not. 

True sacrifice resonates with people and its core values are passed on either through words or actions…even in the realm of creativity. 

We recognize that sacrifice is the greatest form of love because it is selfless instead of selfish – thinking of others before ourselves. When we see echoes of that love in the stories we enjoy, it swells our heart with joy…I think it’s because we know, deep down, that that is a reflection of Christ’s love for us through his sacrifice. 

‘Good Friday’ is good because of what comes from it: Life from death. Hope from despair.

It’s a wonderful story – the best story – and it truly is a Good Friday.