Good Friday: Atonement, Covenant, and the Cross

 Golgotha Tapestry by Jean Leon Gerome

Good Friday is not just a moment of historical tragedy—it is the cornerstone of redemptive history. On this day, we behold the mystery of the gospel: that the sinless Son of God was crucified, bearing the weight of sin, wrath, and judgment, not for His own sin, but for ours.

To understand the significance of Good Friday, we must go beyond the events and dive into the why behind the cross. What was actually happening as Jesus hung on Golgotha? Scripture answers this with stunning clarity and depth.

1. Substitutionary Atonement: The Innocent for the Guilty

At the heart of Good Friday is the doctrine of substitutionary atonement—that Jesus died in our place as our substitute. From Genesis to Revelation, the idea of substitution runs through the story of redemption.

Isaiah prophesied it centuries before Christ:

                    “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”

— Isaiah 53:5

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul explains this exchange clearly:

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

- 2 Corinthians 5:21

This is not a metaphor—it is the very heart of the gospel. Jesus bore the wrath of God that we deserved so that we could receive the righteousness and favor we did not earn.

2. The Fulfillment of the Covenant

Good Friday is also the moment when Jesus fulfilled the terms of the old covenant and inaugurated the new covenant promised in the prophets.

“This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”

— Luke 22:20

The Mosaic covenant required perfect obedience to the Law and the shedding of blood for atonement (see Leviticus 17:11). But no sacrifice was ever sufficient to truly cleanse sin (Hebrews 10:4). Those sacrifices pointed forward to

Christ, the true and final Lamb:

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest...

He entered once for all into the holy places...

by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”

— Hebrews 9:11–12

At the cross, Jesus fulfilled the Law, bore the curse of the covenant (Galatians 3:13), and established a new and better covenant based not on works, but on grace.

3. The Justice and Mercy of God Displayed

The cross is the perfect convergence of God’s justice and mercy. A holy God cannot overlook sin—He must judge it. But in His mercy, He judged sin in His Son, so that sinners like us could be justified:

“It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

— Romans 3:26

The cross is not divine child abuse—it is the triune God working in perfect unity to redeem a people for Himself. The Son willingly submitted to the Father’s will (Philippians 2:8), and the Spirit applies the benefits of that sacrifice to those who believe.

4. Good Friday Is Good News

So why do we call the day of Christ’s death good?

Because through His suffering, we are set free. Because in His dying, death was defeated. Because His blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (Hebrews 12:24)—a word of redemption, reconciliation, and hope.

Good Friday reminds us that our salvation is not cheap. It cost Jesus everything. But it also reminds us that the work is finished (John 19:30). We do not work for our salvation—we receive it by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone.

Let Us Never Lose the Wonder

As we reflect on the cross this Good Friday, may we not grow numb to its beauty and power. May we worship with reverence, confess with humility, and rejoice with confidence that Christ has done what we never could.

Because of the cross, sinners are made saints, enemies become sons, and death is swallowed up in victory.

And that is why Good Friday is very, very good.