Good Friday invites us to reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the moment when He obediently laid down his life as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. For those of us who have been around church cultural most of our lives, there’s a risk of growing numb to the profound strangeness of the cross—an instrument of execution turned into a symbol of victory. It defies human logic to think life could spring from death or that winning could emerge from losing. Yet, this is the heart of the gospel.
The Apostle Paul captures this paradox in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (CSB):
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved… For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached… Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Writing to Greeks influenced by philosophy, Paul says what they are thinking: the cross “foolishness.” It’s a stumbling block to some, nonsense to others, yet for those who believe, it’s the power and wisdom of God. The cross is central to God’s plan to redeem His good creation from sin, decay, and death—a plan that defies our comprehension and will always feel a bit mysterious.
Theological doctrines like justification, atonement, and sanctification help explain the cross, but they can’t fully capture its oddity. If we reduce the cross to a neat formula, we risk missing its transformative power. We don’t need to unravel every mystery of the crucifixion to experience its gifts—forgiveness, mercy, and new life. Our salvation rests not on perfect understanding but on faith in Jesus.
Good Friday reminds us that the power of the cross lies in God’s love and grace, not our ability to comprehend it. We may never fully grasp how one man’s death saves all who believe, but we can trust the One who made it possible. This day calls us not to neatly explain God’s ways but to rest in His love.
