The message of the Bible is clear… that Jesus Christ, the Creator, God in flesh, as the innocent “lamb of God” died in shame and disgrace and agony for sins He had never committed — for your sins and mine.

We know that many an innocent person has died in the place of some guilty criminal who has gone free through some miscarriage of justice. We didn’t see anything good about this.

So, what exactly is “good” about the death of Jesus Christ?

When Peter addressed the leaders of Israel he blamed them for the crucifixion of Christ, saying: “Jesus of Nazareth … ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:22-23). Later Peter faced the Supreme Court of Israel and charged them with His death (Acts 4:5-11).

We come to the answer when we come the Epistles of Paul in our Bibles. There Paul, as the chief of sinners, saved by grace (ITim.1:15), says:

“He (Jesus) gave Himself for me” (Gal.2:20b).

“God (as Father) hath made Him to be sin for us… (so) that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (in Christ)” (2 Cor.5:21).

Paul does not blame Israel or us for Christ’s death — though our sins helped to nail Him to that cross — but rather he proclaims the glad news that,

“We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace” (Eph.1:7).

And why did God do this for us?

“(So) That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Eph.2:7).

So, for we who have trusted Christ as our Savior, the death of Christ at Calvary is indeed good news. We rejoice in it, sing about it, preach about it and all it has accomplished for a lost humanity. Little wonder Paul declared:

“God forbid that I should boast,” except in one thing: “the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14).