Easter is a festival that occurs in the spring and is gladly observed by Christians all around the world. However, Christians mark another holy day, Good Friday, two days prior to Easter. Good Friday will fall on April 7 in 2023. But why is Good Friday recognized but not celebrated? What is it?
Christians remember Jesus Christ’s suffering and crucifixion on Good Friday by the Romans, who were in charge of Jerusalem at the time. As a result, the day emphasizes Jesus Christ’s suffering and death.
So, Good Friday is a serious day marked by fasting and a ban on meat consumption. Therefore, Christians observe Good Friday as a day of reflection and mourning rather than celebration. As a result, nobody wishes one another a “Happy Good Friday.” But why is a day this somber termed “good”?
Some Christian traditions do take this approach: in German, for example, the day is called Karfreitag, or “Sorrowful Friday.” In English, the origin of the term “Good” is debated: some believe it developed from an older name, “God’s Friday.” Regardless of the origin, the name Good Friday is entirely appropriate because it reflects the culmination of God’s plan to save his people from their sins by sacrificing his son Jesus Christ on the cross.
When was Good Friday established?
The day has been commemorated for many centuries. There is supposed to be historical evidence from the 4th-century diary of a wealthy woman, Egeria, who is believed to have made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. She wrote of her travels and included how Christians kept Palm Sunday and other rituals. Eventually, as Christianity spread, the day was observed by other early churches in places such as Antioch, Rome, and Constantinople.
In many places the faithful’s re-enact Jesus Christ’s last journey of carrying the cross to the mount of Calvary wherein he was made to wear a crown of thorns and was tortured as he made the arduous journey to the mountain top.
Fasting and attending church services are part of the commemoration for many on Good Friday. For example, for Roman Catholics, the religious service on Good Friday is the middle part of a three-day-long liturgy, or official rites, called the Triduum.
Anglican, Orthodox, and many Protestant faiths also hold special services on Good Friday to remember the suffering of Jesus in preparation for the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Some churches hold day long services while other’s for three hours, the duration for which Christ was hung on the cross and he died.
According to Luke 23:34, Jesus before dying asked God to forgive his executors even as he was tortured, saying “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Therefore, Good Friday is representation of the removal of the final barrier that comes between God and humans, wherein if we do not forgive, we do not let go and holding on to anger takes us further away from God. Therefore, if you want God to forgive you your sings then you should also learn to forgive those who hurt or harm you.
Source -Times Now
