The Pain Of The Cross: Why is Good Friday good?

When we talk about the pain of the cross, most people think of the physical pain of the crucifixion.

I have heard many give detailed sermons on Good Friday about the physical pain of Jesus' death.

But why is that good? And, If Jesus was so anxious the night before His death that He was sweating blood, why have others who were crucified not go through similar pain in expectation?

For example, even Peter was crucified and gladly went to the cross considering it joy. If that is the case than why did Jesus look with so much horror to the cross?

Jesus said in the garden of gethsemane, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me" (Luke 22:42).

But what is the "cup"? Is it just the suffering of the physical crucifixion?

The Hebrew Word for cup, kôs, in the OT was used for many different reasons, but in terms of figurative language, as Jesus is clearly using it here, the word primarily refers to the cup as the cup of suffering (Lam. 4:21), but even more specifically to the "cup of God's wrath" (Isa. 51:17), and to the cup of the Lord's fury (Jer. 25:15).

Therefore, when Jesus was looking in suffering expectation, It was to the "cup of God's wrath".

Jesus took the wrath of God and was treated as if He was personally responsible for the sins of all men.

And, after being in a perfect, joyous fellowship with God for all eternity, Jesus was forsaken, willingly taking the wrath of God.

As St. Chrysostom said, "By the cross we know the gravity of sin and the greatness of God's love toward us."

Sin demanded a just punishment; it's a grave crime against God Himself! But, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8 ESV).

On Good Friday, the wrath of God was propitiated, so we could have "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom 5:1). Good news! But there is more good news to come! Sunday is coming!