Good Friday vs. Black Friday: The Price of Redemption vs. the Price of a Deal

Every year, I find myself caught up in the excitement of Black Friday. Last year was no different.  I stood in a long line wrapped around the store, eager for the doors to open at 3 a.m. Clutching an ad in my cold hands, I scanned for the best deals, while around me, other fellow bargain hunters strategized like warriors preparing for a great battle. One determined woman near the front had camped out since 10 p.m. the night before, determined to snag a massive discount on a new TV.

Then came the moment we’ve all been waiting for—the doors swung open, and the crowd surged forward. Amid shoving and clashing carts, voices rose in heated arguments over the last of the limited-stock items.

All this for the chance to save a few hundred dollars.

Yet, two thousand years ago, on another Friday, a different price was paid.

That day offered no discounts—only the full weight of sin paid in blood. There were no doorbuster deals—only a wooden cross, hoisted up on a hill called Golgotha. Instead of frantic shoppers fighting to get something for themselves, there was One man, Jesus Christ, who selflessly gave everything for all of humanity.

Isaiah 53:5 says: "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed."

On Black Friday, we chase after deals that won’t last, like electronics that break, clothes that wear out, and gadgets that lose their shine. But in contrast to the price Jesus paid on Good Friday, His gift never loses its eternal value. It doesn’t need an upgrade. It doesn’t become obsolete.

Black Friday holds its appeal—seeking a good deal isn’t bad. Yet, when we reflect on the significance of Good Friday, we must ask ourselves: Do we pursue temporary bargains more passionately than eternal salvation? Are we more excited about shopping than we are about worshiping the One who sacrificed everything for us? Have we traded the lasting joy of Christ for the fleeting thrill of consumerism—even at Easter?

Black Friday is an exchange of money for goods, while Good Friday is Jesus exchanging His life for ours. The next time the excitement of sale grips us, let’s remember the greatest transaction in history: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

On Black Friday, crowds rush to stores pursuing deals. On Good Friday, let’s run to the cross for grace that profoundly transforms our lives. The ultimate Black Friday deal wasn’t found in a shopping cart—it was revealed in an empty tomb three days later. Which Friday will you choose to live for?