What Really Happened on Good Friday!
Welcome to Sunlight & Logos, where we work the “Word” so the “Word” is working. Dawn here. Today we are talking about the Great Exchange.
As a child, we had this thing we did with an egg on Good Friday. I have no idea what this had to do with Jesus. This, and many other religious or cultural traditions, are repeated every year on the day we remember our Savior going to the cross. But the importance of that day passes some of us by. We wear dark clothes, we sing sad songs, but we do not appreciate that this was the day of the greatest exchange ever.
This is the most important day in history. This was the day Jesus Christ willingly and obediently allowed Himself to be massacred and die for all humanity. Why did He do it? For love’s sake. Because, as the famous verse says, “For God so loved the world, He gave His Son,” for whosoever believes. So let’s have a look at what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross.
Why is Good Friday good? Shouldn’t it be Bad Friday? After all, a man is massacred, pinned to a cross, and dies a humiliating death. So why is it “good”? It’s not because it starts a long weekend. It’s good because it is the day we choose to acknowledge the perfect substitutionary sacrifice made for us.
The days surrounding Christ’s crucifixion are crucial and should never be taken lightly. It’s the day we commemorate the price paid for us to receive healing, wealth, righteousness, peace, and eternal, heaven-bound life.
THE SUBSTITUTIONARY PROMISES
What I absolutely love about Isaiah 53:4 is that these Great Exchange promises start off with the word “Surely.” The Hebrew word means exactly what we think it does. These promises are a certainty—100% truth—should we choose to believe and receive. Let’s take a closer look.
His Wounding for Our Transgressions
This wound is not just a slight hurt, like mashing your thumb. This means He was pierced through. They took a giant spear and pierced His side. Why? To pay for all the ways we are rebellious—the times we willfully break the statutes of God and consciously revolt against authority. This is why He had to be pierced through. Thank You, Jesus!
His Bruising for Our Iniquities
Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m just this way, Jesus understands…” or “All my family is like this—that’s how we are made”? We say this to excuse behaviors we know are sinful. Jesus was bruised for all the ways we are bent toward sin.
This bruise isn’t like bumping your leg on a chair. The Hebrew meaning is crushed, pulverized, or smitten to pieces. That’s the price Christ paid for the things we excuse away—so we could be set straight. Thank You, Jesus!
His Chastisement for Our Peace
One of the greatest needs today is peace—we need it like we need food. That’s why we must seek peace and pursue it. But Jesus paid for that too. He was chastised—disciplined and corrected—so we could receive His SHALOM.
This is not just quiet or relaxation. This is wholeness, completeness, and health. Let us not pass this gift by in these tumultuous times. Thank You, Jesus!
His Stripes for Our Healing
One of the most powerful things Jesus did before the crucifixion was allowing Himself to be tied to the whipping post. He paid a heavy cost so we could walk in full physical and mental health.
“By His stripes we are healed.” This was confirmed in 1 Peter 2:24.
He could have called down angels or stopped it all—but He endured it so we could walk in divine health. The Hebrew word for “healed” means mended, repaired, restored to an original, healthy state. Regardless of symptoms or diagnosis, Jesus accounted for it all. Thank You, Jesus!
His Poverty for Our Riches
Jesus thought of everything. He knew poverty and lack would plague humanity, so He addressed that too.
Though He was rich, He became poor so we might become enriched and abundantly supplied (2 Corinthians 8:9). God has given us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). Jesus established that provision. Thank You, Jesus!
His Rejection for Our Acceptance
Isaiah 53:3 tells us He was despised, rejected, and forsaken so we could be accepted in the Beloved.
It does not matter who rejects us—whether relationships fail, opportunities close, or people walk away. Our Savior, the most rejected man who ever lived, paid so that we are forever accepted by God. Thank you Jesus!
His Sin for Our Righteousness
Our righteousness is as filthy rags—we all miss the mark daily. But Jesus, who was sinless, became sin so we could receive His righteousness.
We deserved the punishment, but He took our place so we could take His right-standing before God. Thank You, Jesus!
His Death for Our Eternal Life
Jesus’ death as the spotless Lamb secured eternal life for us.
This is not just long life on earth—this is eternity with Him. A place with no pain, no death, and fullness of life in His presence. Thank You, Jesus!
WHAT ELSE HE GAVE US
His finished work also secured essential gifts for the Christian walk—gifts that are absolutely crucial and meant to be lived out every single day:
- Resurrection power (Romans 8:11) — this power is alive and at work in every cell of our bodies and in every aspect of our lives. This is the same power that raised Christ from the dead, now living on the inside of us, bringing life, strength, and renewal where it is needed.
- The Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17) — He didn’t leave us alone. He gave us His Spirit to help, strengthen, counsel, advocate, and intercede. It doesn’t matter if you feel alone or isolated—even on a desert island—the Holy Spirit promises never to leave us. We have access to His presence, His power, and His fruit when we invite Him to do life with us every single day.
- Authority and power (Luke 10:19) — Jesus Himself told us that we have been given authority and power over all the power of the enemy. We are not powerless, and we are not defeated. Because of what He paid for us to have, we can stand, resist, and overcome the works of the enemy.
This is what we stand on. This is what we walk in. This is what we use as Christ’s ambassadors and soldiers upon the earth. We are not powerless. We are equipped!
OUR PART
One of the greatest gifts God gave humanity is free will. We can choose to receive or reject these gifts. If you do not know this Jesus, or you want to rededicate your life. Click here is a Prayer of Salvation .
These promises are covenantal. After receiving salvation, we must build and maintain our relationship with Christ and His Word. We need the Light and the Logos.
Walking in these promises takes diligence, obedience, co-laboring, and endurance. These are dark times, and the enemy will try his best to steal, kill, and destroy. So we must not only know these truths, but believe them and live them—even contending for them when necessary—so we can claim everything Jesus purchased for us on that Good Friday.
CONCLUSION
Jesus became poor and was stricken, smitten, afflicted, pierced, crushed, chastened, wounded, and killed for us, so that we may be prosperous, peaceful, whole, healed, righteous, and have eternal life. Jesus said in John 19:30, “It is finished!” The word used is tetelestai, a legal term meaning to bring to an end, complete, accomplished. This was not a down payment or an installment plan. It is finished—completely.
Do you know why I love Jesus so much? It’s not just what He did on the cross—it’s what He did after and is still doing.
So this Good Friday, stop, reflect, receive, and tell your Savior: Thank You, Jesus!
Until next time…remember: Let’s Live His Word, Let’s Shine His Light!
