What is Good Friday? Here's what to know about the holy holiday
During the season of spring, households all over the globe observe the Christian holiday of Easter.
Easter is a holiday that holds significance for Christians who observe church services to honor Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead. However, for some people, it's a more secular affair featuring bunnies, baskets filled with treats, and colorful eggs.
Another significant Christian holiday that precedes Easter Sunday by two days is Good Friday. This sacred day honors the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Continue reading to discover the significance of Good Friday and the ways Christians commemorate it.
What's Good Friday?
In the Christian belief system, Jesus was apprehended and brought to trial for professing to be the offspring of God. The Romans authorized his execution by means of crucifixion. He received physical abuse and was coerced to carry a timbered cross to the place of his death, referred to as Golgotha or Calvary. There, he was affixed to the cross with nails and left to perish. As stated in the Bible, Jesus was ultimately taken off the cross and interred.
Followers of the Christian faith adhere to the notion that Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross with the intent of absolving humanity of their sins and revitalizing their relation with the Almighty. This fundamental doctrine is often referred to as the Atonement by practitioners of the religion.
Good Friday is a sacred occasion for Christians where they remember the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is a solemn day where people offer their prayers and take part in church services and vigils to reflect upon his sacrifice.
The Holy Week consists of several important days that lead up to Easter Sunday, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, and Good Friday.
Good Friday - When Is It?
The religious celebration is scheduled to happen on Friday, March 29 in the year 2024.
Good Friday's date is not fixed and varies on the date of Passover. However, Easter Sunday always comes two days after it.
What's The Meaning Of Good Friday?
What makes Good Friday special?
Rev. Dr. Brent Strawn, who is an expert in the Old Testament and holds an ordained minister position in the United Methodist Church, highlights that calling the day of the savior and Messiah's death as "good" is unusual. He questions the reasoning behind calling a day marked by such an event as "good."
It isn't entirely clear why Good Friday is named "good." A frequent idea is that in Old English, "good" meant "holy." As a result, "Good Friday" may be interchangeable with "Holy Friday" or "God's Friday."
According to Strawn, he believes that the name is not making something seem less important or significant than it actually is.
Strawn stated that individuals who believe in Christianity benefit from the fact that Christ sacrificed himself for us. This event resulted in the reconciliation between us and God and brought us peace.
According to Strawn, there could be another explanation for why Good Friday is called so. This could relate to the idea of goodness and an acknowledgment that Easter and humanity's redemption are just around the corner.
What this means to me is that the strongest and most profound versions of Christianity do not deny the sorrow and misfortune of death, but instead have a deep comprehension of the positive aspects that emerged from a very unfortunate event, according to Strawn.
"How Christians Celebrate Good Friday?"
There is no fixed way for Christians to observe Good Friday, as different followers might have their own unique practices. However, some usual customs include:
Fasting holds different meanings to different Christians. For some, it is a way to honor Jesus' sacrifice by going without food for a period. For others, it involves avoiding the consumption of meat for religious reasons.
The Stations of the Cross is a devotional routine that consists of 14 steps. It involves following the path that Jesus took before he was crucified. These stations can be portrayed through paintings that can be found either indoors in a church or outside.
On the occasion of Good Friday, certain countries and cultures participate in processions where they carry representations and sculptures of Jesus or act out his crucifixion.
Praying and Attending Church: A lot of followers of Christianity engage in prayer to reflect on the importance of Jesus' sacrifice and passing.
Christians are aware that Easter is coming up soon and on Good Friday, church ceremonies usually convey the somber atmosphere of Jesus' crucifixion and passing by using Bible verses, supplications, and spiritual songs.
According to Strawn, Christian worships typically culminate with the phrase "It is finished" spoken by Jesus on the cross, followed by the attendees silently exiting the place in complete darkness.
According to Strawn, the subdued and serious atmosphere during worship services on Good Friday reflects Christians' attempt to genuinely recognize the significance of Christ's death and fully grasp the magnitude of the event.
Roughly a quarter of the population in the United States participates in Lent, which is a yearly time for both prayer and fasting that lasts for 40 days until Easter Sunday. It's important to understand the following information regarding this practice.
