Long before there were Easter eggs or bunnies, there was a hill called Golgotha.
It was a Friday. But not just any Friday — a day that would shake the earth, break hearts, and rewrite the future of humanity. A day now known as Good Friday.
But what’s “good” about a day full of pain, betrayal, and death?
Well… let’s back up.
Jesus — a man who healed the sick, fed the hungry, spoke truth, and loved without limits — was arrested like a criminal. Why? Because love can be threatening to systems built on hate and fear. His kindness disrupted power. His truth made liars nervous. His grace was too much for the religious elite.
That night, He was betrayed by a kiss… yes, by someone in His own crew. And by morning, He was standing trial before men who had already decided His fate.
No lawyer. No fairness. Just a crown of thorns, a robe meant to mock Him, and a crowd screaming, “Crucify Him!”
And yet… He didn’t fight back.
He carried His cross up a dusty hill, bleeding and exhausted, knowing exactly what awaited Him. Nails driven through His hands and feet. A jeering crowd. Darkness in the sky.
But here’s the twist: He did it willingly.
Every whip, every wound, every breath He took was soaked in love for you, for me, for all.
While hanging on that cross, He spoke forgiveness. “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”
That’s not weakness — that’s power. That’s divine love.
Then… it was finished.
He took His last breath. The curtain in the temple tore. The ground trembled. And for a moment, hope seemed gone.
But Good Friday isn’t the end — it’s just the setup. The beginning of the comeback. The calm before the Sunday resurrection storm.
Because three days later, death lost its sting. Jesus rose. And the world would never be the same.
So why is Good Friday “good”?
Because love won.
Because sacrifice broke the curse.
Because grace became real, raw, and reachable.
This Easter, as we look toward the empty tomb, let’s not skip over the cross. Let’s remember that even in the darkest hour, God was still working — not just to save one man, but to save all of us.
Gabriel UZABAKIRIHO / KIGALI TIMES