Good Friday

The commemoration of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and death, Good Friday is the most solemn day in the Christian calendar. Despite its name, the day marks Christianity’s darkest moment—the suffering and execution of the Son of God—which Christians believe became the means of humanity’s salvation.

The Events of Good Friday

The Passion Narrative

From Trial to Death (based on all four Gospels):

Early Morning:

• Jesus before Pilate
• Sent to Herod, returned to Pilate
• Barabbas released; Jesus condemned
• “Crucify him!” crowds shout
• Pilate: “I find no guilt in him,” but yields to pressure

The Road to Calvary:

• Jesus scourged (whipped)
• Mocked, crowned with thorns
• Forced to carry cross
• Simon of Cyrene helps carry it
• Jesus speaks to weeping women

The Crucifixion (approximately 9am):

• Nailed to cross between two criminals
• Inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”
• Soldiers divide his garments, cast lots
• Jesus’s seven last words from cross
• Darkness covers land (noon to 3pm)

Jesus’s Seven Last Words:

1. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)
2. “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43) - to repentant thief
3. “Woman, behold your son… Behold your mother” (John 19:26-27) - to Mary and John
4. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34) - Psalm 22:1
5. “I thirst” (John 19:28)
6. “It is finished” (John 19:30)
7. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46)

The Death (approximately 3pm):

• Jesus cries out and dies
• Temple curtain torn in two
• Earth quakes, rocks split
• Centurion: “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)

After Death:

• Soldier pierces Jesus’s side (water and blood)
• Joseph of Arimathea requests body
• Wrapped in linen with spices
• Laid in Joseph’s new tomb
• Stone rolled across entrance

Theological Significance

The Atonement

Central to Christian Faith:

• Jesus’s death atones for human sin
• “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21)
• Substitutionary sacrifice
• Wrath of God against sin satisfied
• Reconciliation between God and humanity

Isaiah 53: Prophecy fulfilled

• “He was pierced for our transgressions”
• “The punishment that brought us peace was on him”
• “By his wounds we are healed”
• Suffering Servant identified as Jesus

Theories of Atonement

Substitutionary Atonement:

• Jesus died in humanity’s place
• Bore punishment deserved by sinners
• Satisfied divine justice

Christus Victor:

• Christ’s death defeats Satan, sin, death
• Victory through apparent defeat
• Liberates captives

Moral Influence:

• Christ’s death demonstrates God’s love
• Inspires transformation in believers
• Example of self-sacrificial love

Ransom Theory:

• Christ’s death pays ransom for humanity
• Freedom from bondage to sin and death

The Paradox: “Good” Friday

Why “Good”?

1. Good for Humanity: Though terrible suffering, it brings salvation
2. God Friday: Possibly corruption of “God’s Friday”
3. Holy Friday: Sanctified by Christ’s sacrifice
4. Ultimate Good from Ultimate Evil: God’s redemptive power

Christians Believe:

• Darkest day becomes brightest hope
• Death brings life
• Defeat becomes victory
• Cross: symbol of shame becomes symbol of glory

Historical Development

Early Church

Observed from Earliest Times:

• 2nd century evidence of annual commemoration
• Weekly Friday fasting in memory of crucifixion
• Annual observance developed into Holy Week
• Jerusalem church traced Jesus’s steps

Jerusalem Liturgy (4th century):

• Christians walk Via Dolorosa
• Stations marking events
• Veneration of True Cross (claimed to be found by Helena)

Medieval Practices

Dramatic Elaboration:

• Passion plays
• Mystery plays depicting crucifixion
• Processions
• Physical reenactments
• Flagellants (controversial extreme)

Devotional Practices:

• Stations of the Cross standardized (14 stations)
• Meditation on Passion
• Crucifixes central to piety

Reformation Changes

Protestant Modifications:

• Rejected some Catholic practices
• Focused on preaching Passion
• Simpler observances
• Scripture-centered services
• Hymns about cross (e.g., “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”)

Catholic Retention:

• Elaborate liturgies continued
• Stations of the Cross
• Veneration of Cross
• Rich ritual tradition

Liturgical Observance

Catholic Good Friday Liturgy

The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (afternoon, typically 3pm):

Part I: Liturgy of the Word:

• Reading from Isaiah 53 (Suffering Servant)
• Psalm 31: “Into your hands I commit my spirit”
• Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 (Jesus as High Priest)
• John 18:1-19:42 (Full Passion narrative)
• Solemn intercessions for church, world, suffering

Part II: Veneration of the Cross:

• Cross unveiled in stages
• “Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world”
• Congregation comes forward to venerate (kiss, touch, genuflect)
• Hymns: “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?”

Part III: Holy Communion:

• Communion from hosts consecrated on Maundy Thursday
• No Mass celebrated on Good Friday (unique in Catholic calendar)
• Lord’s Prayer, distribution, closing

Orthodox Good Friday

Royal Hours:

• Special hours services throughout day
• Gospel readings of Passion
• Lamentations and psalms

Vespers of the Taking Down from the Cross:

• Procession with Epitaphios (cloth icon of Christ)
• Placed on flower-decorated bier
• Congregation venerates
• Burial of Christ commemorated

Matins of Holy Saturday (Friday evening):

• Lamentation service
• Procession around church with Epitaphios
• Beautiful Byzantine chants
• “Noble Joseph” hymns

Protestant Observances

Three Hours’ Service (Noon to 3pm):

• Meditation on Seven Last Words
• Seven sermons or reflections
• Hymns and prayers
• Silent reflection
• Marks Jesus’s time on cross

Tenebrae (Service of Shadows):

• Gradual extinguishing of candles
• Darkness symbolizes world’s darkness
• Readings from Lamentations
• Concludes in darkness and silence

Simple Services:

• Passion reading
• Hymns of the cross
• Communion (some traditions)
• Prayer and meditation

The Stations of the Cross

Traditional 14 Stations

1. Jesus condemned to death
2. Jesus receives the cross
3. Jesus falls the first time
4. Jesus meets his mother Mary
5. Simon of Cyrene helps carry cross
6. Veronica wipes Jesus’s face
7. Jesus falls the second time
8. Jesus meets women of Jerusalem
9. Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus stripped of garments
11. Jesus nailed to cross
12. Jesus dies on cross
13. Jesus taken down from cross
14. Jesus laid in tomb

Practice: Walk from station to station, meditating and praying at each

Modern Addition: Some add 15th station - Resurrection

Biblical vs. Traditional

Not All Biblical: Some stations (Veronica, three falls) from tradition, not scripture

Devotional Value: Help believers enter into Jesus’s suffering

Symbols and Traditions

The Cross

Central Symbol:

• Empty cross (Protestant): Christ is risen
• Crucifix (Catholic/Orthodox): Christ’s sacrifice
• Covered on Good Friday, unveiled at Easter

Colors

Black or Deep Purple:

• Mourning and penitence
• Altar cloths and vestments
• Church decorations minimal

Bells Silent

Replaced by Wooden Clappers:

• In Catholic tradition from Maundy Thursday through Easter Vigil
• Bells associated with joy, inappropriate for mourning

Hot Cross Buns

Traditional Food:

• Sweet buns marked with cross
• Eaten on Good Friday
• Cross symbolizes crucifixion
• Ancient Christian tradition

Fasting

Strictest Fast of Year:

• Catholics: fasting and abstinence from meat
• Orthodox: strict fast continues from Lent
• Protestant: varies; many observe some fasting

Good Friday Around the World

Jerusalem and Holy Land

Pilgrimage Destination:

• Thousands walk Via Dolorosa
• Church of Holy Sepulchre services
• Ecumenical character
• Deeply moving for pilgrims

Philippines

Extreme Devotion:

• Actual crucifixions (controversial)
• Flagellation processions
• Passion plays
• Intense folk Catholicism

Latin America

Semana Santa Processions:

• Elaborate floats of Passion scenes
• Hooded penitents
• Entire communities participate
• Ancient traditions preserved

Europe

Varied Traditions:

• Spain: Dramatic Holy Week processions
• Germany: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion performed
• Italy: Pope leads Stations of Cross at Colosseum
• Poland: Tomb of Christ displays in churches

United States

Denominational Diversity:

• Ecumenical services common
• Many churches close Good Friday
• Schools may be closed
• Not universally observed

Theological Themes

Suffering and Solidarity

God Suffers With Us:

• Not distant from human pain
• Enters into suffering
• Identifies with afflicted
• “Man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53)

Sacrifice and Love

Greatest Love:

• “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life” (John 15:13)
• God’s love demonstrated
• Self-giving unto death
• Love that conquers

Justice and Mercy

Divine Justice Satisfied:

• Sin’s penalty paid
• God’s holiness vindicated
• Yet mercy triumphs
• Justice and mercy meet at cross

Victory Through Defeat

Paradoxical Triumph:

• Apparent defeat is actual victory
• Weakness reveals power
• Death brings life
• God’s wisdom confounds human wisdom

Good Friday and Easter

Inseparable:

• Good Friday without Easter is tragedy
• Easter without Good Friday is meaningless
• “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (1 Cor. 15:17)
• Cross and resurrection are one redemptive act

Friday’s Darkness, Sunday’s Light:

• Waiting in darkness
• Trust despite evidence
• Faith during Saturday silence
• Hope deferred but not destroyed

The Message of Good Friday

Good Friday confronts humanity with the worst we can do and the best God can do. Humanity at its worst: killing the innocent Son of God. God at His best: offering forgiveness from the cross.

The cross is brutal honesty about sin’s severity. Sin isn’t trivial—it required this. God couldn’t just wave His hand and say “nevermind.” Justice demanded satisfaction. Love provided the substitute.

But the cross is also astounding love. “Father, forgive them” while nails pierced His hands. Paradise promised to a dying thief. Concern for His mother while suffocating. This is love beyond comprehension.

“It is finished” doesn’t mean “I’m finished” but “It’s accomplished.” The work of redemption is complete. The price is paid. The way to God is opened. Humanity can be reconciled.

Good Friday says: Your sin cost God everything. Your salvation cost you nothing—Christ paid it all.

Every crucifix, every Stations of the Cross meditation, every Good Friday service asks: Will you accept what was done for you? Will you believe this is how much you’re loved?

The Friday is “good” because out of ultimate evil came ultimate good. The cross that should have destroyed hope became the fountain of hope. Death died on that cross, and life was born.

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