What is Good Friday?

What is Good Friday?


Good Friday is the most important day in the history of the entire world.

It is the saddest day of the year.

It is the worst day in all of history.

It became for us the best day in all of history.

Easter is the most important festival in the church year. But there would be no Easter without Good Friday.


Window at Church with Cross and Lilies

What if Jesus had risen from the dead, but had not atoned for our sins?

He would have gone back to heaven, because he was innocent, but we could never have been given the chance to go to heaven.

What do we do on Good Friday?

On Good Friday we honor the death and burial of Jesus. It is a funeral day, a day of mourning, giving tribute and honor to the life of Christ.

The Lord says, They shall look upon him whom they have pierced; they shall mourn for him as one who mourns an only son; they shall grieve over him as one grieves over a first born child. (Zechariah 12:10; cf Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12; John 19:37; Revelation 1:7)

When we do so, we fulfill this prophecy. But we also receive a special blessing from God himself. "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)

Like those who looked at the brazen serpent in the desert, and were healed (Numbers 21:9), which Jesus refers to (John 3:14 ff), so by Jesus' stripes, we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)


Good Friday - The 2nd Day of the Sacred Triduum

Good Friday is the second of the three solemn liturgical days, called the "Sacred Triduum". It comes from the Latin, and means "Holy Three-Days."

The 3 days are Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. It is also known as the Easter Triduum, Paschal Triduum, and Holy Triduum.

It has been a custom, a most holy observance for centuries in many countries, in many churches, and many families, to keep this a day of silence, prayer, meditation.

Many of us have attended funerals. But no funeral is as solemn, as universally observed, as Good Friday.

The whole Christian church, all over the world, is in mourning. It is the death and funeral of our Saviour, the Messiah.


Holy Customs for Good Friday

In many churches and denominations, there are special services held, to commemorate the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

For many centuries in many countries, no work was done on these 3 days, to allow church attendance, to show our reverent devotion and appreciation to God for our salvation, and, on Good Friday, to mourn the sufferings and death of Christ, who loved us so much.

Greater love than this, no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

But what about his enemies? What about us who by sin are the enemies of God?

The apostle Paul writes that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Good Friday - Purple, Dark, Bleak, and Black

On Good Friday, the churches are bare, there are no flowers, the cloth used is purple and black, which are colors of weeping and mourning.

During his agony, while Jesus was while Jesus was on the cross, there was complete darkness over the whole earth.

Even the stars - that come out at night - found it hard to shine on the saddest day in history.


Good Friday - A Day to Honor the Real Stars

But the real stars we must thank, are the stars of the greatest events in all of history. Yes, we are grateful that Jesus' suffering now is over. But it wasn't easy. It came at a great price, the greatest sacrifice ever. In fact, the cost was of infinite value.

We thank the true stars of the show, the Maker of all and his son Jesus, for giving the most costly gift to us that ever was given - his own life and death, every drop of his blood, his excruciating suffering of body and soul - the scourging, mockery, blasphemy, curses, hatred of people - betrayed and denied by friends - and abandoned by God.

But let us never give up hope. We still have hope. Hope that in a few days, Jesus will rise. Hope for everlasting joy and resurrection in Christ.

Thank your stars.


Go to Holy Week - Palm Sunday - Good Friday - (Lent).

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