Good Friday (Holy Friday) T

meaning of Go

The most important events in Christianity are the death and later resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity.

Good Friday is a day of mourning in church. During special Good Friday services Christians meditate on Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith.

 Friday
When is Good Friday?

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion. On this day, Christians remember the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross.

The date of Good Friday is always the Friday prior to the Easter.

Why is it called Good Friday?

The name may be derived from 'God's Friday' in the same way that good-bye is derived from 'God be with ye'.

It is 'good' because the barrier of sin was broken.

What happened on Good Friday?

Jesus was arrested and was tried, in a mock trial. He was handed over to the Roman soldiers to be beaten and flogged with whips. A crown of long, sharp thorns was thrust upon his head.

Jesus was forced to carry his own cross outside the city to Skull Hill. He was so weak after the beating that a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was pulled from the crowd and forced to carry Jesus' cross the rest of the way.

Jesus was nailed to the cross. Two other criminals were crucified with him, their crosses were on either side of him. A sign above Jesus read "The King of the Jews."

The last words from the cross

The main service on Good Friday takes place between midday and 3pm. In many churches it takes the form of a meditation based on the seven last words of Jesus on the cross, with hymns, prayers, and short sermons. The Bible quotes seven last sentences that Jesus spoke from the Cross.

Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. Luke 23:34

Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise. Luke 23:43

Woman, here is your son... Here is your mother. John 19:26

Eloi, Eloi, lema shabaqthani? (My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?) Mark 15:34

I am thirsty. John 19:28

It is finished. John 19:30

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. Luke 23:46

According to the bible:

• The third hour of the day - Jesus was condemned to death. (9:00 am )
• The Sixth Hour of the day - Jesus nailed to the cross, the darkness covered the whole world ( 12:00 noon ).
• The ninth hour of the day - the darkness left, and the Lord died
  ( 3:00 pm).

The hours in the bible are calculated from the first hour of the day, being 6 in the morning.

Christians believe that Jesus stood in our place.
His death paid the penalty not for His own wrong doings but for ours.

What happens on Good Friday today?

Since the early nineteenth century, Good Friday and Christmas Day were the only two days of leisure which were almost universally granted to working people. Good Friday today is still a public holiday in many countries. 

Some Christians fast (go without food) on Good Friday. This helps them remember the sacrifice Jesus made for them on the day of crucifixion. Many churches hold a special service. This may be a Worshiping or Veneration of the Cross service in the evening or a time of prayer during the day, especially around 3 o'clock as that is about the time of day when Jesus died.

Many Churches hold services lasting three hours. They may celebrate the Stations of the Cross, or take part in Passion plays and dramatic readings.

Some Christians take part in a procession of witness, carrying a cross through the streets and then into church.

Churches are not decorated on Good Friday. In churches, the altars are covered over black cloths. It is seen as a time of mourning.