Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday right before Easter Sunday which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. It is a very solemn day for Christians as they reflect on the sacrificial death of Jesus to pay for the sins of humanity.
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was crucified and died on a Friday. All four gospels record this event (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19). After Jesus’ death, his body was removed from the cross and hastily buried since the Sabbath was approaching. On the Sunday after his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead. This day is celebrated as Easter Sunday. So Good Friday is the Friday right before Easter.
The Significance of Good Friday
Good Friday holds great spiritual significance for Christians. Here are some of the main reasons it’s such an important day:
1. It commemorates Jesus’ sacrificial death
According to the Bible, all humans have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23). The consequence of sin is spiritual separation from God and physical death (Romans 6:23). But God demonstrated his love for us by sending his Son Jesus to die on the cross and pay the penalty for our sins (Romans 5:8). Jesus willingly laid down his life so that those who believe in him can be forgiven and have eternal life with God (John 3:16). Good Friday marks the day when this momentous sacrifice took place.
2. Jesus’ death fulfilled biblical prophecy
The crucifixion did not happen by accident – it was part of God’s divine plan as revealed in Scripture. Many Old Testament prophecies pointed to the Messiah being rejected, betrayed, falsely accused, pierced, and killed (Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Zechariah 12:10). Jesus knew these prophecies and declared they would be fulfilled in him (Luke 18:31-33). By dying on the cross, Jesus proved he was the promised Messiah. Good Friday was the fulfillment of prophecy.
3. The crucifixion resolved humanity’s problem of sin
On the cross, Jesus willingly took upon himself the punishment that we deserve because of our sin. He bore the wrath of God against sin in our place (Romans 5:9, 1 Peter 2:24). Because the penalty for sin was paid through Christ’s death, God can now forgive sin and declare believing sinners righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). Without the crucifixion and what it accomplished, we would still be lost in sin.
4. It demonstrates God’s love and grace
The events of the first Good Friday powerfully display the gracious, sacrificial, infinite love of God for humanity. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Even though we were unworthy and ungodly sinners, Christ willingly gave his life to save us. Good Friday is the ultimate demonstration of God’s amazing grace and love toward us.
5. It shows Jesus’ willingness to obey the Father
As Jesus faced the cross, he cried out, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). This showed his commitment to fully obey God the Father even unto death. Philippians 2 says Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (v.8). Had Jesus avoided the cross, he would have failed to carry out the Father’s will. But he remained obedient even through suffering.
6. It provides an example of sacrifice
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). His sacrificial death on the cross provides an example for Christians to follow in loving and serving others. Just as Christ sacrificially loved us, so we are to love one another humbly and selflessly (1 John 3:16). Good Friday points to the supreme example of sacrifice in Jesus.
7. It accomplished salvation for humanity
The Bible teaches that while God desires all people to be saved, we are incapable of saving ourselves due to our sin (1 Timothy 2:4, Romans 3:20). Only through Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross could the way of salvation be opened for mankind. Hebrews 9:12 says Christ entered into the holy places “by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” Without the crucifixion, the salvation of humanity would have been impossible.
So Good Friday commemorates the most significant day in all of history – when the sinless Son of God bore the penalty of sin on behalf of the world so that all who believe in him might have eternal life (John 6:47). It is certainly a day worthy of solemn remembrance and celebration of God’s redemptive grace.
Events of Good Friday
The gospels record in detail the events that transpired on the day Jesus was crucified. Here is a brief overview:
– Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples called the Last Supper. It was during this meal that Jesus initiated the New Covenant and the ordinance of Communion (Luke 22:7-38).
– After supper, Judas betrayed Jesus and handed him over to the chief priests to be arrested (Luke 22:47-53). Jesus was then led before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin for an illegal night trial (John 18:12-24).
– In the morning, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who questioned him and publicly declared he found no fault in Jesus (John 18:28-38). But wanting to please the Jewish leaders demanding crucifixion, Pilate had Jesus severely flogged and handed him over to be crucified (John 19:1-16).
– Jesus was mocked and beaten by Roman soldiers who put a crown of thorns on his head and a purple robe on his body (John 19:2-3). He carried his own cross to the site of crucifixion at Golgotha (John 19:17).
– At around 9am, Jesus was crucified between two criminals (Matthew 27:38). As he hung on the cross, Jesus spoke several times, forgave those who crucified him, and entrusted the care of his mother to a disciple (Luke 23:34, John 19:26-27).
– From noon until 3pm darkness fell over the land. Then Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” and died (Matthew 27:45-50). At the moment of his death, the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom (Mark 15:38).
– A soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear to confirm he was dead. Joseph of Arimathea then received permission from Pilate to bury Jesus’ body before the Sabbath began at sunset (John 19:31-42). The body was wrapped in linen cloths with spices and laid in a tomb cut from rock.
So Good Friday observes the sorrowful day when the Son of God laid down his life to atone for the sins of the world, setting the stage for his glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Origin of the Term “Good Friday”
Calling the day commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion “Good Friday” may seem contradictory or even blasphemous to some. How could a day marked by such a dark and tragic event be called good? There are several possible explanations for this term:
1. It’s a celebration of Christ’s willing sacrifice on our behalf. His death was a “good” thing because it opened the way for our salvation, even though the event itself was tragic.
2. The original sense in English may have been “God’s Friday,” not “good.” The term “God’s Friday” is found in medieval English literature and emphasizes this day’s theological significance.
3. In Old English, “good” was sometimes used to mean “holy.” Good Friday was the holy day associated with Christ’s passion and death. Attaching “good” conveyed sanctity.
4. In the Greek liturgy, the day was always called “Holy and Great Friday.” The word good may have been derived from the sense of holy associated with the day.
5. The term may be based on “God’s Friday” in German (“Gottes Freitag”) and simply became “Good Friday” in English.
So Good Friday likely originated from some notion of this day being holy, set apart to commemorate Christ’s atoning death for our redemption. While the emphasis is certainly on Christ’s crucifixion, calling it “Good” refers to the ultimate victory of Christ that day fulfilled.
How Good Friday is Observed
There are a variety of ways Christians observe Good Friday to reflect upon Jesus’ crucifixion. Here are some main practices:
– Prayer and fasting – Many spend time in sober prayer interceding for others and repenting of sins. Fasting is also commonly practiced.
– Church services – Most churches hold mournful worship services centered on Christ’s suffering and sacrifice for our sins. The tone is solemn and reflective.
– The Stations of the Cross – Some churches have people move to 14 stations, each depicting an event along the Passion from Pilate’s court to the sealed tomb.
– Cross vigil – Congregations gather for an extended time of meditation on the meaning of the cross. This is often done kneeling at the foot of a cross.
– Passion plays/reenactments – Dramas depicting the events leading up to and including the crucifixion are performed.
– Communion – Many churches observe Communion on Good Friday in memory of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
– Seven Last Words meditation – Reflecting on the seven final sayings of Jesus from the cross.
– Veneration of crucifix – Some venerate or kiss the legs of a crucifix as an expression of worship and gratitude toward Christ.
So Christians observe Good Friday in different ways, but all centered on prayerful meditation and adoration of Jesus who gave his life on the cross for our salvation.
Is Good Friday a Biblical Holiday?
Good Friday as a holiday or annual observance is not explicitly mandated in Scripture. The Bible says little about annual celebrations or holy days believers are commanded to follow. At the same time, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Christ does have clear biblical precedence:
– The Last Supper on the night before Christ’s death was a purposeful memorial Jesus established to remember him (Luke 22:19).
– The early disciples clearly remembered the day of Christ’s death (Acts 2:22-36).
– The Corinthians were reminded of the meaning of Christ’s death as they partook of communion together (1 Cor 11:26).
– Passover and other Jewish feasts similarly recalled God’s saving acts under the Old Covenant.
So while an annual observance of Good Friday is not explicitly biblical, it can certainly be viewed as a biblically grounded commemoration of Christ’s passion and death, much like Passover recalled God’s deliverance of Israel from bondage. As long as it keeps the focus on Christ’s sacrificial love and does not descend into empty ritualism, marking Good Friday can be a way for believers to corporately exalt Christ for his atoning death as Scripture warrants.
Regardless of differences in exact practices, Good Friday has traditionally provided Christians with a valuable opportunity to stop and meditate deeply on the crucifixion of Jesus – the hinge upon which our faith rests. The tragic sufferings of that day remain central to the message that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor 15:3). Remembering annually the day Jesus willingly gave his life for our salvation can only motivate us to love and serve Christ and others more fervently.