Goof Friday

“A contemplative Goof Friday to you!” the text read. Followed by: “**Good** Friday.”

The typo made me smile, but more than that, it made me think.

Goof Friday might be an appropriate name after all.

For the people who heralded Jesus into their city shouting “Hosanna!” and waving palm branches who days later thought they had goofed and made an even bigger goof: trading their “Hosanna!” for “Crucify!”

For the disciple who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and then tried to return it. “I have betrayed innocent blood,” he cried. But he found no home for his regret. He knew that he had goofed.

For the disciple who drew a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. “No more of this!” Jesus said. And He touched the man’s ear and healed him. Do you see the disciple draw back, chagrined? Goofed.

For the disciples who scattered, confused and scared. They had been with Jesus for three years and He had spoken with them plainly, but they had misunderstood what was coming to fruition. They thought they knew, but they had goofed.

For the disciple who followed at a distance. Yes, he was drawn to see what would happen, but when confronted he denied even knowing Jesus. Then he denied it again. And again. When the cock crowed, Peter looked up to see Jesus looking directly at him, and Peter remembered. He had goofed.

For the religious leaders who in their self-righteousness thought they were zealously confronting heresy and instead put to death the living God. Yeah, that’s a goof.

But the biggest goof was this one:

That Satan, in his diabolical wisdom, failed to realize that God would work all things together for the good of those who love Him. That the most heinous dark plan would backfire in the most cataclysmic way. That the great scheme of the Devil was still controlled by God’s plan. That the ultimate evil would become the ultimate good.

Satan’s goof is our salvation.

In three short days, God is going to demonstrate how he turns goof into good. How He turns
Crucify back into Hosanna. Because it is through the crucifixion that Jesus takes upon himself every goof we ever committed and every goof we haven’t committed yet.  It is because of “Crucify!” that we can once again shout “Hosanna!”

Save us, Lord! And He does.

Goof Friday teaches us that God can turn every goof into good. This is true for the biggest story in history, and it’s true for the goof you made this morning. We are never so far from God that He can’t find us. We are never so far from God that He can’t save us. We are never so far from God that He can’t turn our goof into good.

And that, my friends, is the Good News about Goof Friday.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:5-6