What Is Good Friday? What the Day Means to Christians

Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, is a significant day in the Christian calendar. It is the Friday before Easter Sunday and commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The events leading up to Jesus’ death and the impact of his sacrifice on humanity are described in the Bible. In this essay, we will examine the story of Good Friday as described in the Bible, its significance, and the lessons that can be drawn from it.

The Story of Good Friday

The story of Good Friday begins with the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. After Jesus and his disciples had finished their Last Supper, they went to the garden to pray. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, had agreed to betray him to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver. Judas led a group of soldiers and officials to the garden to arrest Jesus.

Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, where he was accused of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. The council handed him over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who found no fault in Jesus but was pressured by the crowd to sentence him to death.

Jesus was then beaten, whipped, and crowned with thorns. He was forced to carry his cross to the place of his execution, called Golgotha, or the Place of the Skull. There, he was nailed to the cross, and he died after several hours of agony. His body was taken down from the cross and buried in a nearby tomb.

The Significance of Good Friday

Good Friday is significant because it represents the sacrifice that Jesus made for humanity. Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to atone for the sins of humanity, to reconcile us with God, and to offer us salvation. The Apostle Paul describes this sacrifice in his letter to the Romans:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

The sacrifice of Jesus on Good Friday is the foundation of the Christian faith. It is the reason why Christians celebrate Easter, which commemorates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead three days after his death on the cross. Jesus’ death and resurrection are the basis of the Christian belief in eternal life and the forgiveness of sins.

Lessons from Good Friday

The story of Good Friday offers several lessons for Christians and for all of humanity. Here are a few of them:

The Power of Love

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is a powerful example of love. He willingly endured unimaginable suffering to save humanity from sin and to offer us eternal life. His sacrifice demonstrates the depth and extent of God’s love for humanity, and it challenges us to love others in the same way. Jesus himself said:

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

The Importance of Forgiveness

Jesus’ death on the cross was a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. Christians believe that through his death, we can receive forgiveness for our sins and be reconciled with God. This teaches us the importance of forgiveness in our own lives. We should forgive those who have wronged us, just as God forgives us. Jesus taught us to pray:

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)

The Reality of Suffering

Good Friday reminds us of the reality of suffering in the world. Jesus suffered on the cross, and many people today suffer from poverty, disease, violence, and injustice. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross teaches us to have compassion for those who suffer and to work towards alleviating their suffering. Jesus himself said