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Good Friday is a major day for Christians around the world that commemorates Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. It has great religious and spiritual significance, depicting Jesus’ final sacrifice for the forgiveness of humanity’s sins. In this essay, we will look at the meaning of Good Friday, its biblical backdrop, and the observances surrounding its commemoration.
What Is Good Friday
Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is the annual day on which Christians commemorate Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. Good Friday has been commemorated as a day of grief, penance, and fasting since the beginning of Christianity, as reflected in the German phrase Karfreitag (“Sorrowful Friday”).
Following the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), the majority of Christian tradition holds that Jesus’ final meal with his followers on the evening before his Crucifixion was a Passover seder. That would place Jesus’ death on the 15th of Nisan in the Jewish calendar, or the first day of Passover (beginning at dusk). According to the Gregorian (Western) calendar, the date is April 7.
(The Gospel) According to John, Passover had not yet begun when Jesus’ final meal was held; hence, the date of Jesus’ death would be 14 Nisan. Christians, however, do not observe that specific date. Instead, they relate the Last Supper to the seder, which appears to be a movable Passover date that follows the Jewish lunisolar calendar rather than the Gregorian solar calendar. Although such a notion is dubious, both Good Friday and Easter have been dated accordingly. Thus, Good Friday occurs between March 20, the first feasible Passover date, and April 23, with Easter following two days later.
Why is Good Friday celebrated?
Jesus went to great lengths to ensure that each of us became heirs of heaven. He became the bridge when there wasn’t one. Good Friday is celebrated because we all know the darkness within ourselves. We are aware of the sins we have committed, and we understand how dark our acts and thoughts may be. When we reflect on the things that have stained our hands, we know deep down that the crimes we have committed are deserving of retribution. Especially when we recognize God’s righteous norms.
The challenge for us is that living for God involves sinless perfection, which none of us possess. Not one, until Jesus came and took our place on that long-ago Friday! That is why we need a Savior, whom Scripture describes as Jesus Christ (Luke 2:11; Titus 2:13–14). We require the Savior, Jesus, because we must be made holy: “Without holiness, no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). We need a Savior since we can’t save ourselves. We require a Savior because, without Him, we are described as “having no hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12).
Even though the Bible does not say we should celebrate Good Friday, we do since it is a good day for humanity! God revealed his love for us via Jesus’ perfect sacrifice. “But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 1 Peter 3:18 states, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” He was put to death in the body but raised to life by the Spirit.
This year, Good Friday will take place on Friday, March 29, 2024. Regardless of how you choose to mark it, understanding the tale of Good Friday causes our hearts to grieve out to God in humility and thanksgiving. It is a day that is holy and makes us holy because God is drawing the world to God’s self in Christ.
Conclusion
Good Friday is a significant day in the Christian religion because it commemorates Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and death. It is a time for serious reflection, contemplation, and remembering of Jesus’ sacrifice for the salvation of humanity. Good Friday commemorates Jesus’ tremendous love, charity, and forgiveness on the cross.
Christians around the world observe Good Friday to reaffirm their faith, express appreciation for Jesus’ suffering, and seek repentance. It is a day of prayer, worship, and spiritual introspection, as Christians consider the significance of Jesus’ suffering and the promise of redemption and eternal life that his crucifixion delivers. Good Friday exemplifies Christianity’s primary message, which includes themes of love, sacrifice, and faith. It is time to embrace the solemnity and significance of this holy day, recognizing its profound spiritual impact on believers.
