Good Friday: The Crucifixion of Christ

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24

Good Friday 2024 is on March 29 Friday

9 months and 17 days to go for the event

Good Friday is a holiday observed during the Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, in commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the sake of salvation of his people. It is believed that Jesus died on the cross saving humankind from the torture of Atonement, in the hope of His glorious resurrection on the third day.

Good Friday is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. In accordance with the Julian Calendar, every year, Easter falls on the Sunday after the first Full Moon that follows the spring equinox. This Full Moon is also known as Paschal Full Moon. Good Friday is observed on the Friday right before Easter. Hence, this year, Good Friday falls on April 7th, 2023.

Significance of Good Friday

As written in the Christian scriptures, Jesus Christ was immersed in prayer at the summit of Mount Olives after which he predicted to his disciples of his death, the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the temple, and his second coming. He broke bread and shared wine among his disciples during the Last Supper, an event that marks the institution of the Eucharist, when he blessed the bread and wine, and told them that he was sharing his body and his blood. Jesus told them that one of them would betray him (Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins).

Jesus was then arrested and accused by the elite council of Chief Priests and the elders of Jerusalem, the army under Pontius Pilate. Jesus was put to trial for having called himself the Messiah, the King of Jews. Although Pontius Pilate admitted having found no fault in Christ, he was forced to sentence Jesus into execution through the punishment of crucifixion, following the rebellious bloodthirsty demands of the Jews.

After the trial, Jesus was made to carry His own cross to Golgotha, or the ‘place of skull’. He died on the cross with two thieves crucified alongside Him. Upon His death on the cross, the earth shook, the curtains in the temple were torn into two, rocks split up, and the graves broke open. After all the havoc had settled, Jesus was buried in a tomb in the garden of Golgotha.

On the third day of his death, Jesus resurrected as he predicted.

“The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” - (Luke 9:22, Mark 8:31, Matthew 16:21)

Observances of Good Friday

Devotees observe fast and attend special services on Good Friday, where they sing hymns in harmony that speak of every event leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. They spend the day in sorrow and penance, and they ready verses from the Bible that speak of His sacrifice for His people. Churches are draped in black curtains to symbolize mourning and grief.

Good Friday is followed by Holy Saturday, which is followed by Easter Sunday.

Rituals of Good Friday

Good Friday is celebrated by the Christian population in India. There is little regional variation. The main rituals are as follows:

• In order to mark the mourning for Jesus, people wear black clothes and cover all pictures, crosses and other religious icons.
• The Catholics attend the church and relive the fourteen stations. These are places around the church that marks the final journey of Jesus.
• This is the only day of the year when mass is not said and candles are not lit. The unlit candles signify the absence of God.
• Every Christian attends the Holy Communion. A bitter drink (known as ‘choruka’) is concocted with bitter guard juice, lemon and vinegar, which has to be taken by everyone at the end of the service.
• In some areas, special services are held for three hours from noon – the actual time when Jesus was believed to be crucified. The lights in the church are dimmed till they are fully extinguished. The finale is marked by a loud noise depicting the earthquake that struck at the hour of death of Jesus.
• Processions are held in certain areas where people sing hymns and offer prayers. Processions signify the willingness to follow God and his teachings. Open air plays are held in some areas to depict the last hours of the life of Jesus.

FAQs

Q: Why is Good Friday called so?

Good Friday is a day remembering the sacrifice of Christ for the salvation of humankind. Despite the sorrow and grief that tag with the day, it is called Good Friday as it carries the message of hope. It comes with the hope of resurrection of Christ on the third day of crucifixion- a victory over sin and death. This further brings the hope of the resurrection from death of those unite with Christ in faith.

The Catholic Encyclopedia, first published in 1907, acknowledge the unknown origin of the term. Some sources claims its origin from "God's Friday" or Gottes Freitag, while others maintain that it is from the German Gute Freitag. The Anglo-Saxons called it Long Friday as is identified in modern Danish. Good Friday is also known as Black Friday.

Q: What are the different days of the Holy Week?

The Holy Week, in Christianity, symbolizes the trials and tribulations, grief and sufferings, and moreover, the passion of Christ. The following are the different days of the Holy Week and what each day represents:

• Palm Sunday: Marks the beginning of the Holy Week. It represents the arrival of Christ into the city of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, when people waved palm leaves in celebration.
• Holy Monday: On the day after Palm Sunday, it is known that Jesus curses the fig tree on the way into the city. “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple.” He claimed his temple to be called a house of prayer, but lamented over how they made it “a den of robbers.”
• Holy Tuesday: On Holy Tuesday, Jesus faced the question of his authority. He later went to Mount Olives with his disciples where he spoke of his days of passion, the destruction of the city, betrayal and his second coming.
• Holy Wednesday: Also known as Spy Wednesday, on this day, the plot against Jesus Christ among priests happens. Judas Iscariot agrees with the Sanhedrin and betrays Jesus for 30 silver coins.
• Maundy Thursday: On this day, Jesus sits and shares bread and wine with his disciples, in the name of his flesh and blood during the Last Supper. Following this, Jesus gets arrested when Judas shows him to the Sanhedrin.
• Good Friday: After betrayal and trials, Jesus was sentenced to crucifixion. Jesus dies on the cross and destruction bestows on the city. He is then buried in the Garden of Golgotha.
• Holy Saturday: This is the day of mourning, reflection and anticipation of the second coming of Christ. Also known as Easter Vigil, devotees prepare for Easter Sunday on this day.