Today is called “Good Friday.” When I was younger I didn’t understand why it was called good when Jesus died. I thought it should be called “Bad Friday.” Over the years, I’ve grown in my understanding of the gospel. I’ve also grown in my understanding of goodness, and the paradox of true good coming from bad.

When I was younger, I didn’t understand that this crowd crying out for Jesus to be crucified probably had many of the same people who gave Jesus a king’s welcome into Jerusalem earlier in the week on Palm Sunday.

John 18:28-19:16 features Jesus’ conversations with Pilate. Even though we aren’t governors or officials with things like political power, authority or civil unrest to deal with, Pilate ends up being a character who is relatable.

Chris has some thoughts to share with us from today’s devotions:

Today we continue on in John 18:12-26. While Jesus is arrested and interrogated harshly, Peter remains outside. Although he had insisted to Jesus that he would follow him to the end no matter what, reality proves otherwise. Peter warms himself near a fire with others, and when different people ask him if he is one of Jesus’ followers, he denies Jesus, just as he had predicted.

Our devotions this week are through the Passion accounts in the gospel of John. Today’s Bible passage is John 18:1-11, when Judas betrays Jesus. While Peter wants to put up a fight, we see Jesus does the exact opposite.