Good Friday is here, but what does that mean? What is Good Friday and why should we care about it? Why is Good Friday an important day to Christians? Whether you’re new to Christianity or just curious, we will deep dive in the Bible and find out the important of Good Friday. This is a great way for you to understand this holiday better, but will also clarify it so you can teach others as well.
What Is Good Friday?
Good Friday is not a federal holiday, but a lot of businesses and schools do acknowledge it. But what is it? Good Friday commemorates the day Jesus died on the cross for our sins. It’s a rather somber day where Christians remember and take time to reflect on the sacrifice that Christ made for us.
Why Is It Called Good Friday?
Why is it called good? Someone dying a horrible death doesn’t sound good. Well, there are some debate on where the name “Good Friday” came from as the Germans call it “Sorrowful Friday.”
But some believe it came from the older name of “God’s Friday.”
It is a sorrowful day as Jesus was nailed to the cross, abused, mocked, and tortured. But it is also good because He became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. We will never be good enough to erase our sins. Jesus broke the bonds of death and sin.
So, What Happened On Good Friday?
We will start with Matthew 27:27-56
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
“27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews.
38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). [Read why He said this here]
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”
What Happens After Good Friday?
After good Friday comes Easter. Easter is when Jesus rose from the grave. He overcame death!
You see this in Matthew 28:1-10
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
What Should I do On Good Friday?
There is no specific things to do on Good Friday, unless you’re Catholic, but generally there will be church services. It’s a somber day where people will contemplate and grief for Jesus and what He went through on the cross. Whereas Easter is a celebration.
Take Time To Remember The Sacrifice Jesus Made
So today take time to remember Jesus. Remember what He went through. The sacrifice that He made for us so that we could be saved. He was the ultimate sacrifice for us. Perfect in all ways and took on our sins.
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What do you do for Good Friday?
