Friday, April 6, 2012

Why do we say “Good” Friday?

I PRAY THAT EACH OF YOU
HAVE A BLESSED GOOD FRIDAY
AND 
A JOYFUL EASTER!

My dear friend Pat of 
has graciously agreed to
Guest Host for me today.
Pat has written a beautiful tribute
to one of the 
HOLIEST DAYS OF CELEBRATION
in CHRISTENDOM!


Good Friday...the Friday before Easter Sunday... marks the day on which Jesus Christ the Son of God was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world.  Yes, for you, for me, for the entire world! 

Luke 23:44 - Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’" Having said this, He breathed His last.

So just what is Good Friday, anyway?

It is "celebrated" traditionally as the day on which Jesus was crucified.   There are some who say Christ died on Wednesday, others claim it was Thursday, and still others are sure it was Friday.  Is it really that important to know what day of the week Christ was crucified?  If it were so important, then God's Word would have clearly communicated which day and at what specific time. What is important is that He did die and that He physically, bodily rose from the dead.  Just as important is the reason He died—to take upon Himself the punishment that all sinners deserve.  

John 3:16 and John 3:36 both proclaim that if we put our trust in Him we will have eternal life! This is true no matter which day He was crucified.  The Bible does not tell us as Christians to remember Christ’s death on a particular day.  The Bible gives us a choice in these matters.   So, instead of remembering Jesus’ death on a certain day annually, the Bible tells us to remember Christ’s death by observing the Lord’s Supper.   In First Corinthians 11:24-26 He declares, “...do this in remembrance of me...for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”

Many Christians spend this day in fasting, prayer, repentance, and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ on the cross. 


So, as I asked in the title to this post, why do we say Good Friday when it was such a somber day?   What the Jewish authorities and Romans did to Jesus was certainly not good (see Matthew chapters 26-27).   However, Christ’s death resulted in the ultimate good!  Romans 5:8; “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  In First Peter 3:18  we are told, “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.”

There isn’t just one answer to my question.  There were several possible origins for the name "Good Friday" to be found on the Internet.   One thought is that it may have come from the Gallican Church in Gaul (modern-day France and Germany).  The name "Gute Freitag" is Germanic in origin and literally means "good" or "holy" Friday.  Another possibility is the substitution of “good” for “God” in "God's Friday," since at that time is was thought God’s name was too Holy to say aloud. 
The explanation or possibility that I prefer to believe is that is was the day (or evening) Christ Jesus died for the sins of all mankind - which is by far the greatest "good" anyone has ever done (or ever could do) for anyone else.  It is when God's covenant was fulfilled, and all people could repent and have the hope of everlasting life if they would chose to accept Jesus' sacrifice, imitate his ways, and obey his Word. 
We can thank Him for dying for us and taking on our sin and know that Good Friday truly was good.  Hallelujah!
*Guest post written by Pat Mallett, aka GraceinAZ  - Growing Old With Grace blog.  My thanks to Ginger for allowing me to share this with all of you on her blog!

Pat, Thank you so much for writing this beautiful post. I know all of us are touched, inspired and learned a lot through your skillful guidence through the day's meaning and importance.
Please go by and visit Pat at Growing Old With Grace. She is a great wordsmith with the ability to take us back into history, look at today's world with wonder and has an awesome sense of humor.


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24 comments:

Jan@southernjunkin' said...

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

PAINTORDIG.blogspot.com said...

Wonderful post. Yes it is a GOOD Friday.

Babs said...

Ginger, Thank you and Pat, so much for this beautiful post. Wishing you both a blessed Good Friday and Happy Easter.
Hugs,
Babs

Pam Kessler said...

Very interesting. The name Good Friday always confused me as a child, so good to get some perspective on it.

Creations By Cindy said...

Happy Good Friday! Praise the Lord He has RISEN! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Ginger and Pat,

Thanks for this post! The true meaning of Easter...
Wishing you a blessed Good Friday and a Happy Easter!
Love to you,

Mariette

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Happy Easter and God's richest blessings to you, Ginger, and Pat as we celebrate our risen Lord.

Pat M said...

Thank you, Ginger and friends, for your warm and thoughtful comments. I also wish for you a Blessed Easter weekend.
Hugs, GraceinAZ (Pat)

Meaningful Mama said...

Thanks for keeping the most important thing central!

Diann said...

A beautiful and wonderful post! Thank you for sharing with us at TTF. I hope you and your family have a happy and blessed Easter!

NanaDiana said...

What an interesting post. Love the explanations. xo Diana

Bunny Jean said...

Hi Ginger!

Thank you for sharing this... and thank you Pat for writing this loves Good Friday post.

I took my time and read it word for word. I hope you have a blessed Easter.

xoxo Bunny Jean

Unknown said...

Beautifully written, great share. Lots of enlightenment & wisdom within ...

Happy Easter
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing, Ginger...Pat certainly did put together a wonderful thought provoking article.

May you be blessed today,
Marianne

Unknown said...

Beautiful Grace, you are awesome! and thank you Ginger for guest hosting Grace. I enjoyed it very much and hope that you both have a blessed and Happy Easter! Good, whatever day, their all good!Hugs.

Ann said...

Thanks for posting all the information on Good Friday. We were always taught it was good Friday because of the reason Christ Died on that day. Come by and see my cross I displayed in my yard today.
Have a blessed Easter.
Ann

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Beautifully said! I watched the Passion of Christ last night and then in church today when they were reading the passion all I did was visualize it in my head. Wishing you a very Happy Easter Ginger!

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

This is so perfect, thank you.

My husband and I just finished watching The Passion of the Christ - whew, been crying so hard.

I know I am not Worthy of the Lamb that was slain............I can only ask forgiveness and keep trying till I get it right.

Yes, we have much to be thankful for, and much to be joyous....because He ROSE! HE is the temple that was rebuilt in 3 days!

Glory be to God!

Beverly said...

Happy Pink Saturday and Happy Easter, Ginger. Thank you for always making Pink Saturday special.♥

Please give Pat my thanks for sharing this beautiful post. I reflects exactly why Easter is my favorite of all celebrated holidays. It is the time that represents all of the grace and hope for which we live.

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Ginger...

I just wanted to stop by to say hello and see how you are doing, my friend! I hope that my note finds you doing well!

I sooo enjoyed reading about Good Friday and what it means! Pat did a wonderful job! I'm sooo very thankful for the sacrafice that Jesus made for us...and that He rose over death triumphant! HE LIVES!!!

Sending you and your family my warmest wishes for a blessed Easter!

Love ya,
Chari

Debbiedoos said...

Happy Easter Ginger, Bob and family! XO

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Thank you dear Ginger and Pat for this lovely post! I've learned something, I really didn't know, or have heard this before, about GOOD FRIDAY. I'm so very grateful for the sacrifice our Jesus did for us by been crucified and He rose and went to His Father's side. I loved it, so thank you again. Wishing you both many Blessings this EASTER SUNDAY, for you and yours.
FABBY

The Tablescaper said...

Very interesting.

- The Tablescaper

The Charm of Home said...

Thank you for joining me at Home Sweet Home!
Sherry

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